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G W A I T H 
LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



THE 

POETICAL WORKS 

OP 

LEWIS GLYN COTHI, 

A CELEBRATED BARD, 

WHO FLOURISHED IN THE REIGNS OP 

HENRY VI, EDWARD IV, RICHARD III, 

AND 

HENRY VII. 



" There is no part of English history since the Conquest so obscure, so 
uncertain, so little authentic or consistent, as that of the wars between the 
roses : historians differ about many material circumstances." Hume. 



OXFORD, 

FOR 

THE CYMMRODORION, OR ROYAL CAMBRIAN INSTITUTION; 

AND TO BE HAD OF H. HUGHES, ST. MARTIN's-LE-GRAND, 

LONDONJ AND R. GEE, DENBIGH. 

1837. 









PRINTED BY S. COLLINGWOOD, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY. 



TO 



THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 



CHARLES WATKIN WILLIAMS WYNN, M. P. 



THIS VOLUME 



is 



RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 



AS A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT 



FOR 



HIS UNWEARIED EXERTIONS 



IN 



THE CAUSE OF LITERATURE 



BY THE 



COUNCIL OF THE CYMMRODORION. 



ADVERTISEMENT 



1 HIS portion of Lewis Glyn Cothi's work is sent 
forth to the public in consequence of the continual 
demand made for it. The second portion, which 
will be found to contain more historical matter, will 
in due time follow, accompanied by a historical 
preface gleaned from the entire poems, shewing 
what part the Welsh nation took in the wars of the 
rival Roses ; and also the reason why the South- 
wallians, during the disturbances in the reign of 
Henry VI, were principally attached to the house 
of York, and the Northwallians, on the contrary, 
to the house of Lancaster ; and, lastly, the reason 
which induced the contending parties in both South 
and North Wales to unite together, and so become 
instrumental in placing Henry, duke of Richmond, 
on the British throne. 

The Arms of Wales, prefixed to the work, are 
copied from the privy seal of Owain Glyndyvrdwy, 
and presented to the Society by Sir Samuel 
R. Meyrick. 

Communications tending to throw further light 
on the poems will be thankfully received. They 



may be forwarded to John Parry, Esq., 17, Tavistock 
street, Bedford square, London ; or to the Rev. 
J. Jones, Christ Church, Oxford. 



The following are extracted from the minutes of 
the Cymmrodorion : 

" The Council of the Cymmrodorion take this 
opportunity of tendering their best thanks to the 
Rev. John Jones, Precentor of Christ Church, Ox- 
ford, for preparing these poems for the press ; and 
also to the Rev. Walter Davies, rector of Manavon, 
for his genealogical arrangements of them accom- 
panied with historical notices." 

" The Council of the Cymmrodorion take this op- 
portunity also of acknowledging with gratitude the 
kindness and liberality of Col. Vaughan, of Rug, 
for having allowed the Rev. J. Jones to collate his 
transcript of the poems with the Hengwrt manu- 
script, said to be in the handwriting of the bard." 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



THE London Cymmrodorion, or Royal Cambrian Insti- 
tution, being anxious to publish the poems of Lewis Grlyn 
Cothi, a native of Carmarthenshire who flourished in the 
fifteenth century; requested that the Reverend Walter 
Da vies, (GwaUter Mecjiain) late Rector of Manavon in 
Montgomeryshire, now Vicar of Llanrhaidr yn Mochnont, 
Denbighshire, and the Reverend John Jones, M.A. {loan 
Tegid) Precentor of Christ Church, Oxford, would under- 
take to prepare them for the press : which they most 
readily consented to do, 

Mr. W. Davies arranged the poems in the order in 
which they are printed ; he also furnished most of the 
pedigrees, and illustrated them, in many instances, with 
valuable notices, both historical and topographical. 

The transcribing of the poems, giving the contents of 
each of them, the compiling a glossary, together with 
the " Historical sketch of the wars between the Rival 
Roses," and the conducting of the work through the press, 
devolved on Mr. Jones. 

The Society begs to offer its best acknowledgments to 
both the reverend gentlemen, for the very able and excel, 
lent manner, in which they have accomplished the arduous 
task. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 



OP 



THE WARS 



BETWEEN 



THE RIVAL ROSES.- 



THE strange attachments which at that time men of the same kindred 
bore to each other, and the vindictive spirit which was considered as a point 
of honour, rendered the great families implacable in their resentments, and 
every moment widened the breach between the parties. — Hume. 

O vonedd, bonedd beniaid, 

O gedeirn, cedeirn eu caid : 

Os cyveillion Hon mewn llys, 

Cyveillion cyva wyllys ; 

Os gelynion gloywon gledd, 

Gelynion hyd gelanedd. — R. D. Bardd Nantglyn. 



JL HE seeds of discord, from which sprang the wars between Richard II. 
the rival houses of York and Lancaster, were first sown in the 

a The writer of this Essay laments that he had no opportunity of consulting 
the works of the poets contemporary with Lewis Glyn Cothi ; otherwise, the 
Essay would have been enriched with the historical illustrations which those 
works might have furnished. His regret at this circumstance urges him to 
impress on all who desire a complete history of those times, the necessity of 
publishing, in a collected form, the whole of the poetry of the 15th and 16th 
centuries now extant ; instead of suffering it to remain scattered, perhaps to 
moulder, in private libraries. For such a purpose he is well aware the funds 
of this society would prove inadequate ; but he is unwilling to believe that an 
appeal to the literary public, in behalf of so desirable a publication, would be 
unanswered. 



iV HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Richard II. reign of Richard II. The primary cause of these bloody wars 
may, in some measure, be found in the weakness of the king, 
who allowed himself to become the dupe and prey of favourites 
who took an undue advantage of his tender age, he being only 
eleven years old when he ascended the throne. They had ingra- 
tiated themselves into his favour ; and, by flattery and intrigue, 
gained his confidence so much during his minority, that the king 
ruled according to their wills and caprice. Thus, by their ill 
advised counsels, they led him into the commission of several 
rash acts, whereby the love of his subjects was daily alienated 
from him, while a strong and powerful opposition was raised 
against his ministers, his favourites, and himself. 

The king was naturally of a gentle and amiable disposition ; 
and was possessed of a spirit noble and generous. But these 
qualifications, through want of parental care and proper educa- 
tion, proved of no advantage either to himself or to the nation. 
The evil habits which he contracted during his minority, and in 
which he was indulged by his favourites, completely unfitted 

Richard at- him for sovereign power ; so that when he attained his majority, 

tamed his an( j too j £ ^ e reins of government into his own hands, he had 

majority in ° 

May, 1389. neither the mind, nor the resolution, to act for himself, and 

independently of the advice of those whom he suffered to mono- 
polize his favour and affections. Those favourites had but 
too well succeeded in poisoning his tender mind, and filling it 
with prejudice and suspicion against his real wellwishers, who 
lamented the thraldom in which he was holden, and the disrepute 
into which the government of the kingdom was fast sinking. 
He therefore never lost sight of those whom he had been taught 
to look upon as his opponents, until by intrigue and treachery 
they were ensnared and murdered. Among the wretched suf- 
ferers from his tyranny, was his own uncle Thomas duke of 
Gloucester, son of Edward III. That prince was betrayed into 
the hands of the earl of Nottingham, who took him under his 
custody, and immediately shipped him for Calais. There, after 
being kept a close prisoner for some time, he was secretly 
strangled. 

When the king had succeeded in his dark and unnatural 
purposes ; and had, as he thought, triumphed over his supposed 
enemies, his next project was to seat himself firmly on his 
throne. With this view, therefore, he liberally conferred new 
honours upon divers individuals, hoping by so doing to gain 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. V 

their affections, and to render them the more constant and Richard II. 
faithful in their attachment to his person. He created five 
dukes ; among whom were Henry earl of Derby, and Thomas 
Mowbray earl of Nottingham. The former was made duke 
of Hereford; and the latter, as a reward for the services 
which he rendered in the matter of the duke of Gloucester, 
became duke of Norfolk. 

When the king, by these acts, considered himself secure Origin of 
upon his throne, a circumstance took place which eventually the C1V £ 
hastened his approaching fall. This was a quarrel between the 1398. 
dukes of Norfolk and Hereford. To this circumstance may 
be attributed the actual commencement of the civil wars, which 
proved nearly fatal to the best interests, if not to the very 
existence of the country ; and which did not terminate until 
the year i486, by the marriage of Henry VII. with the princess 
Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV. If, however, the insur- 
rections caused by pretenders to the throne, during his reign, be 
taken into consideration, those wars may be said not to have 
reached their final period until the death of Edward Planta- 
genet earl of Warwick, which took place about the year 
1500. 

The primary cause of the civil wars, as we have already 
stated, must be attributed to Richard's misrule ; for that it was 
which led to the rupture between Hereford and Norfolk, men 
ambitious of power, between whom there never existed any 
real attachment, or friendly confidence. The changes which 
prevailed around them, and from which they were not exempt, 
tended also, most materially, to set at variance those whom a 
firm government would have united. 

The particular causes which gave rise to the quarrel may be 
summed up as follows. Hereford, desirous of warning the 
king of the danger that threatened him and the nation, by his 
undervaluing the princes of the blood and ancient nobility, and 
preferring others before them, who were new upstart favourites, 
whose mean birth and baser qualities, serviceable neither in 
peace nor in war, had contracted the odium and contempt of the 
whole kingdom, — made known his apprehensions to Norfolk, 
whom he knew to be one of Richard's greatest confidents ; and, 
after showing him the necessity that there was of remonstrating 
with the king on the subject, earnestly requested him to do so. 
Norfolk undertook the task ; but instead of delivering the 

a 3 



VI 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Richard II. message faithfully as he had promised, he so misrepresented 
the whole affair, that he created a groundless alarm in the 
royal mind. The king sent for Hereford to give account of 
his conduct. He accordingly went, and was ushered into the 
royal presence, where he met Norfolk ; and after hearing from 
his majesty the representations made by Norfolk, he immedi- 
ately gave the fullest contradiction to the expressions attributed 
to him, and Tan over the conversation that had taken place 
between them. He said that he had been actuated by no other 
motive whatever than by a sense of duty to his sovereign, 
and love for his country ; but finding that Norfolk still per- 
severed in averring that what he had related to the king was 
the real truth, Hereford gave him te the lie," which was re- 
torted by Norfolk. Hereford, upon this, challenged him to a 
deadly combat; which the other accepted, and the king al- 
lowed, assigning Coventry as the place where the quarrel should 
be decided. When, however, the time fixed for the engage- 
ment had arrived, and the parties had met, the king, by advice 
in council, in order to prevent the shedding of blood, deter- 
mined that instead of fighting, they should both be banished 
from the kingdom ; allowing them fifteen days to get them- 
selves in readiness. Hereford was to be absent for the space of 
ten years, and not to return upon pain of death, without the 
king's special license. This term of banishment was, however, 
before his departure, commuted to six years, in consequence, 
it is said, of the respectful manner in which he took leave of 
the king. 

Norfolk was exiled during life, and his lands were confis- 
cated ; but he did not long survive his disgrace. He went first 
into Germany ; and then to Venice, where in a short time he 
died broken-hearted. 

Hereford went over to France, and was honourably received 
by the French king. But he had not been absent many months, 
before his father, the duke of Lancaster, died. On his demise 
the crown claimed his estates, which the court lawyers declared 
to be forfeited. 

At this period Richard undertook an expedition against 

fa^A.rT Ireland ' to avenge the death of Roger Mortimer, earl of March, 

1399. lord lieutenant of Ireland, who had been slain there by the 

rebels. Hereford, now duke or Lancaster, took advantage of 

Richard's absence. Bv the concurrence of fortunate circum- 



Banish- 
ment of 
Hereford 
and Nor- 
folk. 



The king 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. Vll 

stances, he was enabled to land at Ravenspur, in Yorkshire, in 

the month of July, 1399. and in the September following to 

succeed in deposing Richard. He was accordingly proclaimed 

king, by the title of Henry the Fourth. Henry IV. 

Thus Henry ascended the throne, and his right to it was 

never disputed by any members of the house of York a ; neither 

had his son, Henry V, any thing to fear from that quarter, if we Henry V. 

except the conspiracy that was formed by Richard, earl of 

Cambridge, with the view of recovering for his brother-in-law, The eonspu 

the earl of March, his right to the crown of England. That rat 7 °/ the 
3 to & earl of 

scheme was, however, speedily detected ; and Cambridge, toge- Cambridge 
ther with the other conspirators, was tried and executed without 111 I4I 5* 
delay. 

On the death of Henry V, his son, then only nine months Henry VI. 
old, succeeded to the throne by the title of Henry VI. In his 3* August, 
reign the seed of discord, which, as hath been already observed, 



a PEDIGREE OF THE HOUSE OF YORK. 

Lionel, duke of Clarence, = Elizabeth, da. of William Burgh, earl of 
(third son of Edward III.) I Ulster. 



Philippa= Edmund Mortimer, earl of March. 



Edmund John Elizabeth Philippa 

Roger Mortimer, earl of March, = Elizabeth, sister to Thomas Holland, 



born at Usk, in Monmouthshire, 
on the nth April, 1374. In 
the year 1382 he was appointed 
lord lieutenant of Ireland, and 
in 1385 he was nominated by 
Parliament heir apparent to the 
throne. 



duke of Surrey. 



Edmund, earl of Anne = Richard Conesburgh, earl of Cambridge, 2d. 

March. son to Edward, duke of York. 



Isabel 

Richard Plantagenet, = Cecily, da. to Ralph Neville, first earl of West- 
duke of York. moreland. 



Edward, earl of March, George, duke of Richard, duke of Glou- 
afterward king by the Clarence. cester, afterward RI- 

title of EDWARD IV. CHARD III. 



a 4 



v iii HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Henry VI. had been sown in the reign of Richard II., produced so abun- 
dant an harvest, that scarcely a family in the whole kingdom 
escaped from the direful effects of the desolation which ensued. 
So turbulent indeed were those times, that history has, in a 
great measure, thrown a mantle over the bloody scenes; and 
shrouded them from the view of posterity. It is, therefore, from 
the desire of throwing some light on those times, that the 
Royal Cymmrodorion Society has published the present 
volume ; from which may be gleaned some brief but valuable in- 
formation, of the part which leading influential characters among 
the Welsh nation took in the civil conflicts. Of these the bard 
himself was not an inactive spectator; for he was but too 
successful, in several instances, in kindling into a flame the 
latent sparks of bravery, which, had it not been for his spirit- 
stirring poems, would in all probability have lain dormant in 
the bosom of its possessor. It appears, however, from his 
compositions, that he was actuated by no fixed political prin- 
ciples, nor by any genuine attachment to either of the con- 
tending parties. To him it was a matter of indifference 
whether the house of York or that of Lancaster should finally 
triumph. His bitter and rancorous hatred toward the whole 
of the English nation, as exhibited in his poems, was so deep- 
rooted, that he cared not in the least by whom the kingdom 
were governed, if the sovereign must be an Englishman. 
Mindful, perhaps, of the late untoward struggle and defeat of 
Owain Glyndyvrdwy, as well as of many other of the native 
princes before the time of Owain, he rejoiced at the thought 
that the English were now at war among themselves. When 
therefore he raised the battle-cry in his poems, he was actuated, 
no doubt, by a strong desire of widening the breach which 
then unhappily existed; for by that circumstance he thought 
there might be a chance that some one or other of his own 
nation would be enabled to rise into eminence in the state, if 
not eventually to wield the sceptre of government. 

France lost In the year 1450, the whole of France, excepting Calais, was 
'lost to England. When the English army, under the com_ 
mand of sir Thomas Kyriel c , was routed at Fourmigni, there 

c " Sir Thomas Keriel is taken prisoner and all the leg harness, and about 
3,000 Englishmen slain. Matthew Gooth [Gough] with 1,500 fled, and saved 
himself and them. And Peris Brusy was chief captain, and had 10,000 
Frenchmen and more."— Sir John Fenn's Paston Letters, vol. I. p. 43. dated 
at London, 5th May F450. 4to. London, 1787. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. IX 

was present a noted soldier called Gwilym Gwent, whose name Henry VI. 
should not be unnoticed ; for on that occasion, the well known 
Matthew Gough owed the preservation of his life to him. The 
circumstance is thus recorded by Lewis Glyn Cothi : d 

Y vo gedwis ei vywyd 
I Vathew Goch vyth i gyd ; 
Yno ill dau ni neillduynt 
I roi y gad i wyr gynt. 

Gwilym, like his friend Matthew Gough, was a warm Lan- 
castrian. The valour which he displayed in the wars with 
France,, as well as the uprightness of his character, is beautifully 
depicted by our bard. 

But to proceed. Soon after the loss of France, symptoms of 
discontent began to manifest themselves throughout England. 
The people were loud in their outcries against the govern- 
ment ; and attributing the loss of their foreign possessions to 
the mal-administration of the ministers, they turned their 
attention to the claims of the duke of York to the throne. It 
was about this time that Jack Cade, an Irishman, a man of Jack Cade, 
mean and obscure origin, but of a bold and daring spirit, 
assumed the name of John Mortimer, at the instigation, it 
is supposed, of the partizans of the duke of York. He repre- 
sented himself to be the son of sir John Mortimer, who had 
been sentenced to death by parliament, and executed in the 
beginning of this reign. At the mention of that popular name, 
the common people of Kent, to the number of 20,000, flocked 
to Cade's standard : but the rebellion ended in the death of 
its instigator, who was captured in a garden by a gentleman 
of Sussex, and killed on the spot. 

While these proceedings were going on in England, Richard Duke of 

duke of York was in Ireland, whither he had been sent to Y°^ k ™ 

Ireland. 

quell a rebellion. Here, as already in France, he gained 
great reputation for wisdom, moderation, and valour. His fame 
for these qualifications soon spread far and wide ; and his friends, 
in consequence, began now to entertain strong and sanguine 
hopes of seeing him one day placed on the British throne. And 
the imbecility of the king, his utter incapacity to govern, and 
the faction, discontent, and rebellion with which he was en- 
vironed, seemed to warrant such an expectation. 

d Dosp. VIII. vii. lines 27 — 30. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Henry VI. 



Duke of 
York re- 
turns from 
Ireland, 
1452. 



Marches at 
the head of 
an army 
towards 
London. 



Disband- 
ing of his 
army 
March 1, 
1452. 



The duke 
taken pri- 



His re- 
lease. 



In the above description one may perceive some similarity 
between the case of Henry, and that of Richard II ; but more 
especially in that they allowed themselves to be governed by a 
faction ; than which nothing can be more destructive to the 
well-being of a nation, or more fraught with danger to the 
stability of the throne. 

The duke, upon his return from Ireland, finding that his 
popularity was become great, and likely to increase, and that 
his friends had been successful in forming a strong party in his 
favour, began to think seriously of the crown. He, therefore, 
in concert with the earls of Salisbury and Warwick, raised an 
army of 10,000 men in the marches of Wales ; with which he 
marched towards London, under the pretence of demanding a 
reformation of the government, and the removal of the duke of 
Somerset from all power and authority. He unexpectedly, 
however, found the gates of the city shut against him ; and, 
retiring into Kent, was followed by the king at the head of a 
superior army. A parley ensued; Richard consented to dismiss 
his troops, and to renew his allegiance to the king, on condition 
that the duke of Somerset should be put under arrest, and 
submit himself to a trial in Parliament. Richard, having been 
assured that his demands should be complied with, dismissed 
his troops. But when he afterwards went to pay his respects 
to the king in his tent, and there repeated his charge against 
Somerset, he was surprised to see that minister step from behind 
the curtain, and offer to maintain his innocence. Richard now 
found that he was betrayed ; that he was in the hands of his 
enemies. No violence, however, was attempted against his 
person. But while the council continued sitting in deliberation 
upon him, a rumour was current through the city of London 
that his son Edward was advancing thither with a strong army 
of Marchmen. In the mean time, ambassadors arrived from the 
heads and magistrates of the city of Bourdeaux, who signified 
to the council that, if the king would send an army into Gas- 
cony, the people would return to their former allegiance to the 
English government. The result of these two combined cir- 
cumstances was the release of the duke of York; who was 
permitted to return to his own castle of Wigmore a , in the 
marches of Wales. 

a Wigmore castle, in Herefordshire, on the borders of Shropshire, about 
seven miles from Ludlow. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XI 

An expedition to France was undertaken, at the head of Henry VI. 
which was the veteran John lord Talbot ; but, on its failure, the Expedition 
English at home expressed the highest possible discontent, and ° iance 
threw all the blame, without any just reason, on the ministry. 
The ferment, at this time, was so great throughout the country, 
that the queen and her party, finding that they were unable Duke of 
to contend with York, sent Somerset to the Tower ; and the p^™^ 6 
king being seized with one of his fits of sickness, York was 
made protector of the kingdom. The following year, the king 
was sufficiently recovered to resume the reins of government. 
One of his first acts was to revoke York's appointment, and Deposed, 
reinstate Somerset, who was now released from the Tower. 

The duke of York again retired into the marches of Wales; 
where with the assistance of Salisbury, Warwick, lord Cobham, 
and others of his friends, he raised a powerful army 5 at the 
head of which he marched toward London, The king, on being 
apprised of his approach, led also an army toward St. Alban's, 
accompanied with the dukes of Somerset and Buckingham, the 
earls of Stafford and Northumberland, lord Clifford, and many 
other persons of distinction. Here on the following day a First 
battle took place, in which the Yorkists proved victorious. St Alb ' 

Richard was now again declared protector ; and soon earned May 23, 
the approbation, as well as the confidence of the people, J^ ' f 
But the queen, in course of time, from a spirit of jealousy, York again 
arising out of fear that her own son, Edward e prince of Wales, Protector - 
might in the event of the king's death be deprived of his right 
to the throne, entered into a conspiracy against Richard's life, 
and the lives of the earls of Salisbury and Warwick. Under pre- 
tence of benefiting the king's health, but in reality with a 
view to the destruction of those noblemen, she caused the court The court 
to be removed to Coventry. When Richard and his friends ^ eld a * 
were proceeding to court, they by some means discovered what 
the queen's real intentions were ; whereupon Richard retired 
to Wigmore ; Salisbury to his castle of Middleham, in York- Duke of 

shire ; and Warwick to his government of Calais. Yorkretires 

mi . i . t0 vvigmore 

I he duke remained quiet at his castle : which the king and castle. 

his adherents perceiving, deemed it advisable to make prof- 
fers of reconciliation to f him, and his friends; especially as 

e Prince Edward was born 13th of October 1453. 

f " The duke of York, the lord Cromwell, and other lords of the north, that 



xii HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Henry VI. the French king, by taking an advantage of the disturbed state 
of England, greatly molested the coasts of Kent and Devon- 
shire ; while the Scotch also, on the other hand, were making 
frequent predatory and destructive incursions upon the English 
borders. The duke, together with his friends, accepted the 
tenders made to them; and proceeding to court, an apparent 
Reconcilia- reconciliation took place, which was solemnized with unusual 
tion of par- p 0m p by a procession of the reconciled nobles, in company with 
the king and queen, to St. Paul's cathedral. 

Not long, however, after that ceremony had taken place, the 
following circumstance occurred, which ended in the parties 
being set again at variance. One of the king's retinue having 
Fresh quar- insulted an individual belonging to that of the earl of Warwick, 
rels- their companions on both sides took part in the quarrel; a 

fierce combat ensued : the earl apprehended his life to be aimed 
at: he fled to his government of Calais; and both parties, in 
every county of England, made preparations for deciding the 
Battle of contest by arms. Hence followed the battle of Bloreheath. 
Bloreheath, The Lancastrians were headed by lord Audley, who fell in the 
1459. engagement; and the Yorkists by the earl of Salisbury. The 

latter, after obtaining a complete victory, reached the general 
rendezvous of the Yorkists at Ludlow. 
Duke of After this battle, the duke of York took an open and active 

York col- part against the existing government. His pretensions to the 
army. crown were no longer concealed. He accordingly collected a 

vast army, consisting principally of Welsh and north-country 
men ; and being joined by the earl of Warwick at the head of 
his troops from Calais, he remained in the marches of Wales, 
not far from Ludlow; where he determined to await his ene- 
mies, or to meet them if they came forward. 

The king, who was well convinced of the duke's real motives, 
marched against him with his army, intending to give him battle. 
When both armies were in sight of each other, sir Andrew 
Trollop f , at the head of the veterans who had accompanied him 
Avere with my said lord of York, are coming hither on Monday next, as it is 
credibly said. The lords, that be appointed to keep the sea, are making them 
ready in all haste. And the Treasurer also, the lord of Wiltshire, for the west 
coast. And a stately vessel, only for the war, is made new at Bristol, 
by the mayor ; and the said town with the west coasts will do their part, 
and [if] they may be supported and favoured."— Paston Letters, dated 
London, 5th July, 1457. v °h !• P- Hi- 

f His name is mentioned in Dosp. I. xxiii. line 52. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. Xlll 

from Calais, went over, during the night, to the king's side. Henry VI. 
The Yorkists were so dismayed at this instance of treachery, 
which made every man suspicious of his fellow, that they sepa- 
rated next day without striking a blow. The duke g fled to Duke of 

Ireland : the earl of Warwick, attended by many other leaders, * ork 

J J escapes 

escaped to Calais. However, the friends of the house of York, into Ire- 

in England, kept themselves ever in readiness to rise on the lan . d »; *"? 
- i i.ii iipi n earlof War- 

first summons from their leaders ; both of whom were well wick into 

received at their respective destinations. Calais. 

The earl of Warwick, by his unwearied perseverance, and 
from the splendid success that attended his efforts during his 
stay at Calais, found himself the next year in condition to 
attempt a landing in England ; which he, with the earl of 
Salisbury and the earl of March, effected on the coast of Kent. 
Being met there by lord Cobham, and other persons of dis- 
tinction, he marched to London ; and thence, his troops daily 
increasing, he advanced to meet the royal army which was 
hastening from Coventry to attack him. They met and fought The battle 
at Northampton, where the royalists were defeated, and the Nortn- 

r , J ampton, 

king was made prisoner. 10 July, 

When the queen n heard that the king was taken prisoner, I 4 6 °- 
she retired to Durham ; but not thinking herself safe there, 
she then, together with her son and eight persons, fled to 
Harddlech castle 1 , in Meirionethshire : whence afterward she 
went to Scotland. 

The state of the country was, at this time, awfully turbulent ; 
a portentous crisis appeared inevitable. The king, aware of the 
danger that threatened him, caused, on the 9th day of August, i 4 6o. 
letters k to be written to the constables of Beaumaris, Conway, 
Flint, Hawardin, Holt, and Ruthin, commanding them to pro- 
vide for the security of those places ; also to Jasper Tudor earl 
of Pembroke, assuring him of the king's belief in the loyalty of 
Richard duke of York, and commanding him to deliver Denbigh 
Castle to the duke's deputy ; and likewise to the lord Powys to 

S " The duke of York is at Dublin, strengthened with his earls and ho- 
magers, as ye shall see by a bill." — Paston Letters, dated London, January 
7, 1459- vo1 - L P- l8 5- 

h Holinshed, Chron. vol. III. p. 655. 

1 Called also Caer Collwyn ; and Twr Bronwen. 

k Nicolas's Proceedings, &c. of the Privy Council of England, vol. VI. 
P- 303- 



XIV HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Henry VI. surrender the castle of Montgomery. On the 17th day of the 
month he himself wrote a letter, as if suspecting their loyalty, 
to sir William Herbert, knight, Walter Devereux, and Roger 
Vaughan, esquires, giving them power to prevent all unlawful 
assemblies, to arrest all such persons as should attempt to 
victual or fortify castles, and places of strength in South Wales, 
and to adopt measures for the safe custody of the said castles 
until the king should give further directions. In the December 
following, we find the duke of York in his own castle of* Sandal, 
in Yorkshire ; and the queen also in the neighbourhood with a 
superior force. The duke, provoked by the queen's challenge, 
The battle risked an engagement ; and the battle was fought near Wake- 
field 2 tfi ne ^- ^ s army was vanquished; he was slain; and his son, 
Dec. 1460. the earl of Rutland, was put to death after the battle. The 
Duke of earl of Salisbury, with several others, was taken prisoner and 
York slain. gent to p om f re t, where they were beheaded ; and their heads, 
together with that of the duke, being fixed on poles, were 
placed over the gate of the city of York. 

The duke of York left three sons, Edward, George, and 

Richard ; and three daughters, Anne, Elizabeth, and Margaret. 

Edward Edward earl of March, the eldest son, was at Gloucester 

earl of w hen he received the intelligence of his father's death. Upon 
March at & r 

Gloucester, hearing the news, he removed to Shrewsbury, and other towns 

upon the river Severn ; declaring, wherever he went, the 

murder of his father, the jeopardy of himself, the unstable 

state the government was in, and with what ruin it was 

threatened. His appeal was not in vain i ; for the people in 

the marches of Wales were firmly and faithfully attached to 

the house of Mortimer ; so that he soon found himself at the 

Collects an head of an army of 23,000 men, ready to go against the queen, 

army. an( j ^ Q mur( ] erers f his father. But when he was preparing 

to proceed, news was brought to him that Jasper Tudor earl of 

Pembroke, and James Butler earl of Ormond and Wiltshire, 

had assembled together a great number both of Welsh and Irish 

people, in order to surprise and take both him and his friends,, 

and then bring them in triumph to the queen. After receiving 

this intimation, he fearlessly marched against them; and met 

i " Moreover all the men of power who inhabited between Gloucester and 
Shrewsbury, had dependencie on him as heire to Mortimer ; or held in chiefe 
of his mighty confederate, the earl of Warwick."— Habington's Hist, of Ed- 
ward IV. p. 3. 4to. London, 1659. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XV 

them at Mortimer's Cross, in Herefordshire ; where an engage- Henry VI. 
ment took place, in which the royalists were defeated with the Battle of 
loss of 3,800 men. The earl of Pembroke escaped by flight; Cross T A 
but his father, sir Owen Tudor, was taken prisoner, and imme- 
diately beheaded by Edward's order. Among those who fell on 
Edward's side was Griffith ab Nicholas, of Newton. 

We will here give a short account of Griffith ab Nicholas. 
He was originally a Lancastrian k , and was governor of Kilger- 
ran castle under Henry VI ; but was induced, by the following 
circumstances, to change sides. Jasper earl of Pembroke covet- 
ing the governorship of the castle, at this time holden by Grif- 
fith, used all the interest which he and his brother Edmund, earl 
of Richmond, * possessed with Henry VI. to have him super- 
seded. This attempt, on the part of Jasper, so exasperated 
Griffith, that he never forgot the insult. When m Richard 
duke of York was appointed protector, on the Yorkists gaining 
the battle of Northampton, he sent commissioners to different 
parts of the kingdom, with power to arrest and punish all 
persons guilty of misdemeanour against the laws of the realm. 
Among such persons was Griffith ab Nicholas 13 , who, on a former 
occasion, had withholden from the duke of York some land in 
Herefordshire ; and had refused to obey the sheriff's warrant, 
then issued against him ; and now, in addition, had committed 
several depredations in the marches. When, therefore, Griffith 
heard of the fresh storm that was brewing against him, he lost 
no time in breaking off with the court ; and, by tendering 
his services to the duke, which were readily accepted, to sup- 
port the claims of the house of York to the throne, he escaped 
the threatened punishment. He was faithful to his promise; 
for, on the death of the duke at Wakefield, he united his forces 
k See Dosp. II. i. lines 9, 10. 53 — 56 ; also the notes to the poem. 
1 " The earl of Richmond and Griffith* are at war together in 

Wales." — Paston letters, dated Horshighdon, 7th June, 1456. vol. I. p. 137. 

m " My lord of York hath diverse strange commissions from the king, for to 
sit in diverse towns coming homeward, that is to say, in Ludlow, Shrewsbury, 
Hereford, Leicester, Coventry, and in diverse towns, to punish them by the 
faults to the king's laws." — Paston Letters, dated at London, 12th Oct. 1460. 
vol. I. p. 201. 

The duke of York, who had escaped to Ireland, returned in consequence of 
the victory gained at Northampton over the king's army; and landed at 
Chester. From thence he proceeded to the different towns as above stated. 
n See Cambrian Register, vol. I. pp. 58 — 62. See also note to Dosp. II. ii. 
* Qr. Griffith ab Nicholas. 



XVI HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Edward IV. with those of his son the earl of March ; and fell bravely fighting 
by his side, (as already mentioned,) in the battle of Mortimer's 
Cross. 

The duke of York, after he had received his commissions 
from the king, appears to have used the power entrusted to him 
principally for the furtherance of his own ambitious views. This 
we judge to have been the case, not only from his conduct with 
respect to Griffith ab Nicholas, in his proceedings against whom 
he had some justice on his side ; but from a poem addressed to 
Rice ab John, of Aberpergwm ° ; and from another to Henry ab 
Gwilym P ; both of whom were staunch Lancastrians, and, 
according to the solemn attestation of the poets here referred 
to, innocent of the charges preferred against them. Rice ab 
John, however, made a manly and successful resistance against 
the commissioners ; for when they came to arrest him, they 
were compelled by him, with the assistance of 'his adherents, 
to make a hasty retreat. There is also a poem, by Iorwerth 
Vynglwyd, dated A. D. 1460, addressed to him ; in which the 
poet writes in anticipation both of his arrest, and of the confis- 
cation of his lands. It is an excellent, and well written poem, 
and contains a graphic description of the sad state of affairs, as 
well as a noble vindication of Rice ab John. 

Second But to return to our narrative. Margaret compensated the 

battle of (J e f ea t sustained by the royalists at Mortimer's Cross, by a 

St. Alban's, . . . . 

24th Feb. victory which she obtained over the earl of Warwick at St. 

1461. Alban's ; but she made no great advantage of this victory. For 

Edwards, who was then in Gloucestershire, hearing of the dis- 
aster, advanced against her ; and meeting with the earl of War- 
wick and the remains of his army, at Chipping-Norton, in Ox- 
fordshire, was soon in condition to give her battle with superior 
force. Previously to his meeting with Warwick, Edward had 
in his train Walter Devereux, William Herbert, John Wenlock, 
William Hastings, and others from the marches of Wales, with 
an army of 8,000 men. When the queen heard this, sensible 
of her danger while she lay between the enemy and the city 
of London, where she now had but few if any friends, she 
retreated to the north. Edward entered the capital amid the 
acclamations of the citizens ; and took up his residence at 

o Dosp. I. xxiv. lines 23 — 44. 

P Dosp. VIII. viii. 

9 Annates Wilhelmi Wyrcester, ed. Hearn, vol. II. pp. 488, 489. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XVll 

Baynard's Castle: where, on the 3d day of March, George Edw. IV. 
Nevill archbishop of Canterbury, the bishops of Salisbury and 
Exeter, John duke of Norfolk, Richard earl of Warwick, Wil- 
liam Herbert, with many others, held a council ; when it was 
unanimously agreed upon, to bestow the crown of England on 
Edward duke of York : accordingly, on the following day, he 
was proclaimed king by the title of Edward the Fourth. Edward 

Queen Margaret having retired among her own partisans in £ in „ 4th 
the North, in a short space of time collected an army of March, 
60,000 men. Edward and the earl of Warwick hastened, 
with an army of 40,000, to check her progress. 

The armies met at Towton, a village in Yorkshire ; a fierce Battle of 
and bloody battle ensued, in which the Lancastrians were th M ^ r> 
defeated. After the battle, Jasper Tudor a went to Ireland, in 1461- 
order to procure further assistance. The queen b fled to Scotland, 
and thence to France. 

On the 29th day of June, Edward c was crowned at West- Edward 
minster with the usual solemnities ; and he shortly afterwards k *j f 
created his brother George, duke of Clarence, and his brother England, 
Richard, duke of York. 

In October of this year we find Edward master of all England 
and Wales d , except Harddlech Castle, which did not surrender 
until the year 1468. 

( In parliament 6 assembled, on the 4th of November, the title 
of Edward, by hereditary descent, through the family of Mor- 
timer, was recognised. Our bard f , alluding to this fact, traces 

a " Sir, as for tidings out of Ireland, there were many men at London, at the 
fair of the countries next them of Ireland, and they say, this three weeks 
came there neither ship nor boat out of Ireland to bring no tidings ; and so it 
seemeth there is much to do there by the earl of Pembroke." — Paston Letters, 
dated 1462. 2 E. IV. vol. I. p. 266. 

b " Item, king Henry, the queen, the prince, the duke of Somerset, duke of 
Exeter, lord Roos be fled into Scotland, and they be chased and followed," &c. 
— Paston Letters, vol. I. p. 219. dated London, 4th April, 1461. 

c Carte. 

d " As for tidings, the king will be in London within three days next 
coming, and all the castles and holds both in South Wales, and in North 
Wales, are given and yielded up into the king's hand ; and the duke of 
Exeter and the earl of Pembroke are fled and [have] taken the mountains, 
and divers lords with great puissance are after them. And most part of 
gentlemen and men of worship are come in to the king, and grace of all 
Wales." — Paston Letters, dated 4th Oct. 1461, vol. I. p. 244. 

e Carte. f Dosp. I. xviii. 72 — 80. 

b 



Xviii HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Edw, IV. Edward's descent from Roger Mortimer; and from Gwladus 
Ddu, daughter to Llywelyn the son of Iorwerth, prince of 
North Wales in the reign of Richard I.; thereby showing to 
the Welsh nation that Edward had a fair claim to their support, 
at least on the ground of consanguinity. It is from this cause, 
and from the great influence which the rank and wealth of 
Richard duke of York had obtained for him, over his less 
wealthy yet powerful neighbours surrounding his castles of 
Wigmore and Ludlow, that we can account for the descendants 
of sir David Gam enlisting themselves under the banner of the 
house of York. Sir David himself fought and died for the 
house of Lancaster, Even his own countryman, Owain Glyn- 
dyvrdwy, could not draw him aside from his fidelity to that 
house. Yet his grandsons, sir William and sir Richard Her- 
bert S, with several of their relatives, became the unflinching 
advocates of the house of York ; and by their courage in battle, 
as well as by their advice in council, they became greatly instru- 
mental in placing Edward on the throne. Both sir William 
and his brother were brave and high-spirited men, of noble and 
powerful connexions in the country; and, living in princely 
mansions, they gave to their guests and adherents princely en- 
tertainments. They had not only their harpers to enliven their 
festivities, but also their bards, who sang their praises, extolled 
their valour, and recorded their deeds. At this time the Welsh 
bards had a kind of magical influence over the minds of the 
peasantry ; and the daring warrior rejoiced to have them on his 
side, to assist him in mustering his army, and in stimulating it 
with courage in the day of battle. 

But to proceed. Queen Margaret during her retirement in 

France was not inactive ; for she succeeded in obtaining aid 

from Lewis XL, and was again enabled to take the field, and 

Battle of make an inroad into England. Her army was, however, defeated 

15th May, at Hexham, on the 15th of May, by lord Montague, brother 

1463. to the earl of Warwick. After this battle, king Edward, in 

order to be near the places which were disaffected towards 

him, took up his quarters at Durham K While there, he 



8 See sir David Gam's pedigree, facing p. i. 

h " The king [Edward] lieth at Durham, and my lord of Norfolk at New. 
castle; we have people enough here."— Paston Letters, dated Newcastle, Dec, 
10, 1463. vol. I. p. 275. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XIX 

received intelligence that the castles of Alnwick, Dunstan- Edw. IV. 
borough, and Bamborough had been taken ; and that they were 
now in his possession. 

William Herbert, according to Lewis Glyn Cothi ', and others, 
signalized himself greatly while with the king in his expedition 
.to the north. We also learn from our bard k that, previous 
to this northern expedition, he had gained great celebrity in 
defending the southern coasts of England against insurgents, as 
well as against the French, who were continually harassing 
those parts. It was in the south of England, as we learn from 
Gutto r Glyn 1, that he first established his fame as a warrior. 
His words are these : 

Ei glod ar hyd Gwlad yr Hav, 
A'i ovn gynt, a vu gyntav. 

Edward after his success in the north lived in the most fami- The king 

liar and social manner with his subjects, until his marriage mar ™ed 

. . . fe ist May, 

with the lady Elizabeth Grey, daughter of sir Richard Wood- 1464. 

ville, and widow of sir John Grey, of Groby near Leicester, 
who fell in the second battle of St. Alban's. At the time when 
the marriage took place, the earl of Warwick was at Paris, 
where he had been dispatched to demand Bona of Savoy, sister 
to the queen of France, in marriage for the king. His pro- 
posals were accepted ; the treaty was fully concluded ,• and 
nothing remained but the ratification of the terms agreed on, 
and the bringing over the princess to England. When War- 
wick, who was still in France, heard of the king's marriage, he 
was inflamed with rage and indignation. He did not however, 
on his return, as is represented by Hume and others, retire 
immediately from court ; although he deemed himself affronted, 
both by being employed in this fruitless negociation, and by 
being kept a stranger to the king's intentions. It was not until 
lie had been employed again in a similar fruitless negociation, 
in 1467, for Edward's sister, Margaret of York, that he broke 
off from the court. Sometime, however, before he took this 

1 See Dosp. I. xviii., a poem addressed to Herbert; also Dosp. I. xxviii., 
and Dosp. IV. xix., poems addressed to two other Welsh warriors, who 
attended Edward IV. to the north. 

k Dosp. I. xviii., lines 41 — 44. 

1 Gutto 'r Glyn, a celebrated bard, as well as a staunch Yorkist, was con- 
temporary with Lewis Glyn Cothi. 

b 2 



XX HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Edw. TV. decisive step, his eyes were opened to the endeavours made to 
paralyse his influence at court. The king's resignation of him- 
self to the counsels of the queen's relatives, and the gradual 
removal of confidence from himself, were constant sources of 
mortification. It was with the vigilant eye of jealousy, and 
with a fretful spirit, that he watched the proceedings of the 
king ; and particularly his courteous conduct toward sir William 
Herbert ; whose son m and heir, William, was married to the 
queen's sister, and received the order of knighthood, on the 
same day that the lordship of Dunster was bestowed upon 
Herbert himself. 
1468. In the year 1468, a bearer* of letters from queen Margaret 
to Harddlech Castle was taken up in Wales ; and sent by Her- 
bert's orders to London to the king. Herbert, at this time, 
accused several of disloyalty to Edward ; and among others, the 
earl of Warwick, whom he, grounding his accusation upon what 
he had heard from France, accused of intriguing in favour of 
queen Margaret's cause. The earl, however, after submitting 
himself to a trial, in his castle of Myddleham, was acquitted. 

On the 24th of June, Jasper Tudor landed with three 
French ships, near Harddlech. He was accompanied with 
fifty persons. In his progress through North Wales there 
flocked to his standard 2,000 men ; he marched to the town of 
Denbigh, which he ransacked and put to the flames. Upon 
hearing of his proceedings William Herbert, with his brother 
Richard, hastened against him at the head of an army of 
1 0,000 men. Jasper was attacked by sir Richard P, and his army 
routed ; several were taken prisoners, of whom twenty were 
beheaded ; but Jasper himself escaped by flight. After the 
victory, William Herbert laid siege to the castle of Harddlech, 
which held out till the 14th of August, when it was surrendered 
by its gallant defender David ab Ieuan ab Einon <1. 

In the following extract from a poem addressed to sir Wil- 
liam Herbert, we are presented with a vivid description of his 



™ Annales Wilhelrni Wyrcester, ed. Hearn. vol. II. p. 506. 
n Id. pp. 511, 512. 
o Id. pp. 516,517. 

P Sir Richard signalized himself greatly in this expedition : Dosp. I. xx. 
37-44- 

q See notes to Dosp. I. xix. also Dosp. I. xviii., note 84. 









WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XXI 

progress through North Wales, and especially of the taking ofEdw. IV. 
Harddlech : 

Doves a'i wyr, divasw wedd, 

Dareni daiar Wynedd ; 

Iarll, ond ev a'r llu, nid a 

Ar wddv Eryri Wyddva. 

Daur er ei chael dri a chwech, — 

Un dan harddlun yw Harddlech. 

Tynu a gwyr tonau gwin 

Peiriannus, val mab brenin. 

Uchel ewri a chlariwns, 

A tharvu gwyr a thwrv gwns ; 

Saethu 'mhob parth saith mil pen, 

A'u bwa o bob ywen : 

Clod wellwell, cludaw allan 

Goed mawr a fagodau man ; 

O wartha 'r rhai'n, hyd yr hwyr, 

Arvogion a'u rhyvagwyr. 

Trwy'r tair gwart Herbart hirborth 

Tynu 'r pen capten i'r porth. 

Ennillodd, un ewyllys, 

Y brenin lech Bronwen Lys. 

Hywel Davydd ab Ieuan ab Rhys. 

Harddlech Castle was the last place that surrendered to king 
Edward ; and as a reward for the taking of it sir William was, 
on the 27th of May, A. D. 1469, created earl of Pembroke ; of 
which dignity Jasper Tudor was now deprived. 

The earl of Warwick, who had been privately fomenting 
discontent, when he had gained to his side his brothers the 
marquis of Montague and the archbishop of York, and also 
Edward's brother, George duke of Clarence s , departed for 
Calais *; where, in the month of July, in order to secure the 1469. 
friendship of the duke, he gave him his eldest daughter Isabella 
in marriage. 

Shortly after Warwick's departure, an insurrection arose in 
the north ; the origin of which was a dispute, it is said, about 

* Deuai. The following passage, from Pennant, gives an epitome of the 
facts stated in this passage : " The march towards Harddlech, over our Welsh 
Alps, was attended with great difficulties ; for in some parts, the soldiers were 
obliged to climb ; in others, to precipitate themselves down the rocks." — Pen- 
nants Tour through North Wales. 

s See Dosp. I. xvii. note 48. 

t " And as for the king, (he) was appointed for to go to Calais, and now it 
is put off. And also as for going to sea, my lord of Warwick's ships go to 
the sea, as I understand." Paston Letters, dated 22nd May, 1469. vol. II. p. 19. 

b3 



XXII 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Edw. IV. certain rights, reported to be invested in the governors of the 
hospital of St. Leonard., near York, which the country people 
resisted. But there is reason to believe that the people were 
instigated to this act, by friends of Clarence 1 " and Warwick, ac- 
cording to a preconcerted plan. An attack was made by the rebels 
on the city of York, which was repulsed, and the ringleader, 
Robert Holderne, taken and beheaded. In despite of this, how- 
ever, they continued in arras ; and being soon headed by men 
of greater distinction, sir Henry Neville, son of lord Latimer, 
and sir John Coniers, they advanced southward, and began to 
appear formidable to government. 
The battle William Herbert, now earl of Pembroke, was ordered by Ed- 
Julv^iijo' ward to march against them at the head of a body of Welshmen. 
When he arrived at Banbury, he was joined by upwards of 5,000 
archers, under the command of Humphrey, lord Stafford, lately 
created earl of Devonshire 8 ; but the two chiefs quarrelling 
about lodgings, lord Stafford deserted in the night. The two 
armies met at Danesmore, about four miles from Banbury. Be- 
fore, however, a general battle had taken place, Pembroke, in a 
skirmish, succeeded in taking sir Henry Neville a prisoner, and 
ordered him immediately to be put to death. This summary 
execution enraged the rebels: a fiercely contested battle 1 en- 
sued, in which the Welshmen were vanquished, leaving about 
5,000 dead on the field. Pembroke, his brother sir Richard Her- 
bert, Thomas Vaughan, John Donne of Kidwelly, with several 
other eminent persons, were taken prisoners and beheaded. 

After this battle the northern troop marched towards the 
town of Warwick to join the earl, who had arrived there from 
Calais. The duke of Clarence also, who was not far distant, 
hastened at the express request of the earl to the place of ren- 
dezvous. Edward, who was in pursuit, advanced at the head 
of his army ; when both armies met, a parley ensued. The 
king, who was at Woolney, about four miles from the town of 
Warwick, expecting a reconciliation would be the result, appre- 
hended no danger to his person, until he was surprised, taken 
prisoner, and conveyed to the castle at Warwick. Thence 
he was conducted to Myddleham Castle, and placed under the 

J* Dosp. I. xvii. lines 45 — 48 ; also note 48., 

s " My lord Stafford was made earl of Devonshire upon Sunday." — Paston 
Letters, dated Whitsun Monday, 2 2d of May, 1469. vol. II. p. 18. 
* See notes to poem, Dosp. I. vi. also Dosp. I. vii. viii. 



Edward 
taken pri- 
soner. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XX111 

custody of the earl's brother, the archbishop of York. He had Ed w. IV. 
not been there long, before, by the assistance of sir William I4 ^' 
Stanley,, sir Thomas Borough, and others, he effected his escape, His escape. 
and made his way to York, where he was well received by the 
citizens. After remaining in this city two days, during which 
time he mustered a small army to accompany him on his journey, 
he proceeded towards London ; but afterwards fearing lest with 
so small a troop, he should be unable to make his way there 
without hazard to his person, he returned to Lancaster. Here 
he found the lord Hastings his chamberlain at the head of a 
body of troops ready to assist him ; and thus reinforced he re- 
traced his steps towards London, where he arrived in safety. 
The intelligence of his arrival in the capital greatly perplexed 
Clarence and Warwick ; to whom, after consulting with their 
friends,, it appeared advisable to send to the king, requesting Edward's 
him, with the safety of their persons, to grant them an au- interview 
dience, with the view of explaining themselves, and settling rence an( j 
their differences amicably. This was granted : they met at Warwick. 
Westminster ; the meeting proved any thing but satisfactory ; 
they separated j the king went to Canterbury ; the duke and 
the earl retired to Warwick Castle. This interview was shortly 
afterwards followed by an insurrection in Lincolnshire, headed 
by sir Robert Welles, son to the lord of that name. It was, 
however, soon quelled by the king, who marched in person 
against the rebels. He fought them near Stamford ; took their Stamford, 

leader and sir Thomas De Launde prisoners : and ordered them 01 " Lostcoat 

. battle, 13 th 

to be immediately beheaded. This battle was called Lostcoat March, 

Field, because many of the rebels threw away their coats to I 47°* 
ensure their safety by night. 

The duke of Clarence and the earl of Warwick, on hearing clarence 
the result of this battle, fled to France ; where they were well re- ar ) d War- 
ceived by the French king. They were also furnished by him France. 
with men and money; so that, in the September following, 
they landed at Dartmouth. No sooner was the news of their Their re- 
landing made known, than a great number rallied around their turn - 
standard ; and their army daily increasing, they marched against 
Edward. The king, through his own previous neglect in not 
preparing for the event by having an army in readiness, found 
himself in no condition to risk a battle. He therefore by the Edward 
advice of his friends escaped the country. He arrived at Lynn ; escapes to 
went on board a Dutch vessel ; with difficulty landed in Hoi- 

b 4 



XXIV HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Edw. IV. land, and there placed himself under the protection of the duke 
of Burgundy 11 . Clarence and Warwick finding that Edward had 
made his escape, marched to London, released Henry from the 
Henry VI. Tower, and in the month of October had him again proclaimed 
restored. kj n g A parliament being assembled in November, Edward 
was declared an usurper, and he and his adherents were at- 
tainted. 

Jasper Tudor x , who was now restored to his titles, lost no 
time in visiting his county of Pembroke, where he found his 
nephew Henry, son of Edmund earl of Richmond, in the cus- 
tody of lady Herbert, wife to the late William Herbert, earl of 
Pembroke. Henry found in her a kind and careful guardian ; 
one who watched over his education and the improvements of 
his mind. Jasper, taking Henry along with him, returned to 
London and introduced him at court. 
Edward re- Edward, in consequence of the aid he received from his bro- 
March 14 ther-in-law the duke of Burgundy, and relying on the promises 
1471. of assistance by his friends in England, landed on the 14th of 

March the following year, at Ravenspur in Yorkshire. Among 
those who went to meet Edward on his arrival, we find, accord- 
ing to Gutto 'r Glyny, the brave Kynaston 2 , of Hordley, one 
of whose descendants has thus rendered the words of the bard ; 

This dread hero ran with haste 

To meet his king, his kinsman, and his friend : 
Proffered his life, his all, to aid the cause 
Of injured majesty. 

Lewis Glyn Cothi a records another warrior, Llywelyn ab 
Rice ab John of New Radnor, who also, with his men, hastened 
to meet Edward after his landing. From the same poem we 
learn that he was also present at the battles of Barnet and 
Tewkesbury ; for the bard says, 

Edward ban ddaeth i'w adwedd, 
Prwy y m6r, i dir y medd ; 

i u Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy, married Edward's sister, 3rd of 

July, 1468. It was to this marriage that Edward owed his preservation 
abroad, and the final recovery of his kingdom. 

x Grafton. 

y See Arwyrain, neu Gerdd voliant, i syr Roger Kynaston. Gan Gutto'r 
Glyn. 

z See notes to Dosp. V. i. 

a Dosp. III. xxv. 41 — 46. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XXV 

Llew Rhys, wrth roi llawer rhodd, Edw. IV. 

Ei dri ban, a'i derbyniodd ; 

Ac ar dasg y gwnaeth basgwaith b , 

Yn mron dydd y murniad waith : 

Ac yn Newksbri dodi dydd 

A'i ynnill ev a'i dnwydd. 

Edward, after his landing, proceeded unmolested towards 
York, where after a long parley he was received ; and thence 
he went to Doncaster c : in his way thither, he had some acces- 
sion to his army. From Doncaster he marched to Nottingham, 
where he was joined by sir William Parr and sir James Har- 
rington, at the head of 600 men. His next place was Leicester, 
where 3,000 more rallied around his standard. On the 29th of 
March he appeared before Coventry ; in which town the earl of 
Warwick, with an army of between six and seven thousand men, 
was quartered. Edward, after several fruitless attempts to draw 
the earl out of the town into the open field, withdrew himself 
to the town of Warwick. At this time the duke of Clarence 
abandoned the earl of Warwick, and going over to his brother, 
brought to his aid an army amounting to more than 4,000 men. 
The earl of Warwick, still refusing to risk an engagement, 
Edward, by the advice of his friends, marched through North- 
ampton, where he was well received, towards London. The 
gates of the city being thrown open to him, he went first to 
St. Paul's, and then to the bishop's palace, where the archbishop 
presented himself to the king, and, together with himself, the 
unfortunate Henry, who again fell into Edward's hands. 

The earl of Warwick, trusting to the fidelity of his brother 
the archbishop and the citizens of London, advanced towards 
the city ; but unexpectedly, On Easter-eve, he was met by Ed- 
ward and his army, at Barnet d . The following morning, the Battle of 
14th of April, a battle was fought. After a long and hard con- Barnet, 
test, victory at last declared herself on Edward's side. Among I47l . ' 

the slain left on the field, were found the earl of Warwick and The death 

of War- 
wick. 

b This couplet refers to the battle of Barnet. 

c See Historie of the arrival of Edward IV. in England, &c, edited by 
John Bruce, esq. Published for the Camden Society. 

d The poem above alluded to, written by Gutto'r Glyn, was addressed to 
Roger Kynaston after this battle, to congratulate him on his receiving the 
order of knighthood, as a reward for his services. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Edw. IV. 



Queen 
Margaret 
lands at 
Wey- 
mouth. 



The battle 
of Tewkes- 
bury, 4th 
May, 147 1 
Queen 
Margaret 
taken pri- 



his brother, the marquis of Montague. The duke of Somerset e 
and John earl of Oxford escaped into Wales, to Jasper earl of 
Pembroke. 

The same day on which this battle was fought, queen Mar- 
garet and her son Edward the prince of Wales landed at Wey- 
mouth, supported by a small body of French forces. When 
she received intelligence of her husband's captivity, and of the 
defeat and death of the earl of Warwick, she took sanctuary in 
the abbey of Beaulieu, in Hampshire. When she was here, 
Edmund duke of Somerset, Thomas Courtney earl of Devon- 
shire, Jasper Tudor earl of Pembroke, John lord Wenlock, and 
others, presented themselves to her, and consulting what steps 
should be taken in the present crisis, they came to the resolu- 
tion of still prosecuting the war against Edward. They then 
separated : the earl of Pembroke went to Wales to his earldom 
to collect and rally his adherents : the queen went to the 
southern counties of England ; and having, with the assistance of 
her son the prince, and the other noblemen, collected a con- 
siderable addition to her force, she marched to Bath. But there 
receiving intelligence that Edward was advancing against her, 
she went to Bristol, intending from thence, after having been 
joined by the earl of Pembroke, to proceed to the counties of 
Lancaster and Chester. She had not, however, gone farther 
than Tewkesbury, when king Edward overtook her, and gave 
, her battle ; in which the queen and her forces were defeated. 
She was taken prisoner ; her son Edward f, in his endeavour 

e This was not the first time that the duke of Somerset sought refuge in 
Wales, as the following extract will testify : " My lord [John Mowbray, 
duke of Norfolk] hath great labour and cost here in Wales, for to take diverse 
gentlemen here which were consenting and helping unto the duke of Somer- 
set's going ; and they were appealed (accused) of other certain points of trea- 
son, and this matter ; and because the king sent my lord word to keep this 
country, is [the] cause that my lord tarrieth here thus long; and now the 
king hath given my lord power, whether he will do execution upon these gen- 
tlemen, or pardon them, whether that him list (pleaseth), and as far forth as 
I can understand yet, they shall have grace, and as soon as these men be come 
in, my lord is purposed to come to London, which I suppose shall be within 
this fortnight ; the men's names that be impeached are these, John Hanmer, 
and William his son, Roger Puliston, and Edward of (ab) Madoc, these be 
men of worship that shall come in." Paston Letters, dated, Holt Castle, 
Denbighshire, 1st March, 1463-4, 3 E. IV. 

f Prince Edward was only eighteen years of age when he died ; and was 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XXV11 

to escape to the town, was taken and murdered; the duke ofEdw. IV. 

Devonshire fell in the field ; but the duke of Somerset, with 

many others, was made prisoner and afterwards beheaded. 

The queen S was conveyed into London, and thrown into the 

Tower. And king Henry, on the 23rd of May, only a few days Henry VI.'s 

after the battle, expired in this confinement. death. 

The earl of Pembroke, who was levying forces in Wales, 
disbanded his army when he received the intelligence of the 
battle of Tewkesbury ; and fled into Brittany with his nephew, 
the young earl of Richmond 11 . 

During Edward's temporary absence, the bastard of Faucon-May, 1471. 
berg collected a large army, with which he attempted to sur- 
prise London ; where being repulsed, he retired, and on the 
king's advancing towards him he submitted, when he was not 
only pardoned, but knighted i . He was, however, shortly after- 
wards beheaded. 

Edward was now firmly seated on his throne ; yet for all 
that, and although all the hopes of the house of Lancaster 
seemed to be utterly extinguished, he could not help entertain- 
ing some inward apprehensions for the final safety of the house 
of York, as long as Henry, earl of Richmond, was alive. He 
therefore, in 1476, endeavoured to have him delivered up to 
him ; but in this his purpose he failed. 

We will now draw towards the close of Edward's reign. 
Among the last of his public acts was to send, in 1483, his 
brother Richard, duke of Gloucester, at the head of an army 
into Scotland, to oblige the Scotch to accept of peace, and also 
to deliver up Berwick Castle. This expedition succeeded 
according to the king's wishes. He also, this year, intended Edw. IV. 
making war on France; but before his plans were quite April ^uW 
matured he died, on the 9th day of April, leaving two sons, 

buried without any funeral pomp in the church of the Black Friars, in Tewkes- 
bury. Historians differ as to the mode in which he was put to death, but 
according to " Mastar Flyghtwods boke, Recordar of London," it was as fol- 
lows : " Edward, called Prince, was taken, fleinge to the towne wards, and 
slayne, in the fielde." See Historie of the arrival of Edward IV. in England, 
&c, p. 30. 

S Margaret, queen of Henry VI. continued a prisoner till 1475, when she 
was ransomed by her father for 50,000 crowns, which he borrowed of Lewis 
XL, king of France. She afterwards lived a private life, and died in 1482. 

h See notes to Dosp. II. iv. 

J See Paston Letters, vol. II. note to pp. 74, 75, 



XXV111 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Edward V. Edward and Richard: and five daughters, Elizabeth, Cicily, 
14 3 * Anne, Catherine, and Bridget ; of whom their uncle, Richard 
duke of Gloucester, was appointed the guardian. 

When the king died, his son Edward 1 was at Ludlow Castle 
with his uncle and governor, the earl Rivers. The queen sent 
for him to London, where he had been proclaimed king by the 
title of Edward V. But he did not long enjoy the sovereign 
dignity ; for his paternal uncle, Richard, duke of Gloucester, 
whose ambition was only exceeded by his cruelty and treachery, 
pursuing that hatred which had been always manifested towards 
the queen and her relatives, first deprived the young king of the 
protection of his maternal uncle, the earl Rivers ; whom, together 
with lord Richard Grey and sir Thomas Vaughan k , he caused 
to be arrested, and shortly afterwards to be beheaded at Pomfret 
Castle. He then paved the way for dispatching the young king 
and his brother ; and eventually succeeded in sacrificing them 
to his ambition by an obscure and unnatural assassination. This 
circumstance is recorded in a Welsh poem, written by a bard * 
who lived at the time; and the following is a translation, by 
the right honourable Mr. Justice Bosanquet, of that portion of 
the poem to which we allude : 

Old London saw, in evil hour, 
A Jew usurp the British power ; 
The boar, on murder foul intent, 
Brave Edward's sons in durance pent ; 
His tender wards, his nephews two, 
By lawless ruthless force he slew. 
Out on his Saracen's savage face ! 
Who angels killed of Christian race, 
And brought (by holy Non m) the shame 
Of Herod on a manly name ! 
I marvel that the wrath of Heaven 
Had not the earth beneath him riven. 

Rich. III. Richard, after the murder of these innocents, and of others 

H 8 3' whom he thought stood as barriers in the way of his gaining his 

ambitious ends, succeeded to the throne on the 19th of June, 

by the title of Richard III. His character, as well as the events 

i See note to Dosp. I. xiv. k See Dosp. I. xiv. xv. 

1 Cywyddi'r Brenin Harri VII. gan Davydd Llwyd Llywelyn ab Grufydd. 

ra Non was the mother of Saint David, and a saint of great credit in "Wales. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XXIX 

of his brief reign, being well known, we will therefore only Rich. III. 
notice such incidents as brought his overthrow and death. 

On the 4th of July, two days before he was crowned, Richard Crowned 
held his court in the Tower of London. On this occasion se- ^^^ 
veral new earls were created, and several also received the order 
of knighthood. But John Morton bishop of Ely, the most adroit 
statesman in the country, and who had been a great favourite 
with king Edward, was on the same day delivered up to Henry 
Stafford, duke of Buckingham, to be kept in ward. The duke 
sent him to his manor of Brecknock, in Wales. However, it 
was not long after the coronation before the duke himself, who 
had been chiefly instrumental in placing Richard on the throne, 
thought it expedient to quit the court. Among his other reasons 
for adopting this measure was Richard's uncourteous conduct 
towards him, especially in his not rewarding him for his services 
as he had promised he would on his receiving the crown. The 
duke on leaving the court returned to his castle of Brecknock, 
where the bishop was still in custody; and here it was that 
he conceived the project of deposing Richard, and placing 
Henry, earl of Richmond, on the throne. He opened his mind 
gradually to the bishop, whom he knew to favour the house of 
Lancaster. The bishop at first hesitated to give his opinion on 
the subject, fearing lest the duke intended to betray him to the 
king ; but when he was assured that the duke had no such in- 
tention, and that he was indeed intent upon putting his plan 
into execution, he no longer concealed his real sentiments which 
happened to be in unison with those of Buckingham. The first 
step taken, after this, was that of the duke sending for his tried 
friend and confident, Reginald Bray, who was then in Lan- 
cashire, in the service of the countess and lord Thomas Stanley . 
He arrived at Brecknock ; and, after a consultation, it was 
agreed that he should return and communicate to the countess 
the message entrusted to him ; who, upon hearing what was in 
agitation, and that moreover it was intended, in the event of suc- 
cess, that the earl of Richmond should marry Elizabeth, Ed- 
ward IV.'s daughter, immediately avowed her approval of the 
duke's design. After Bray's departure, the bishop, to the great 
mortification of the duke, effected his escape; and going to 

n The dowager countess of Richmond, Henry's mother, married lord Stan- 
lev. 



XXX HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 

Rich. III. Ely, where he found money and friends, he was enabled from 
thence to make his escape to Flanders, and join the earl of 
Richmond, and to become still farther instrumental in promot- 
ing his cause. 

The dowager countess of Richmond, after she had received 
the intelligence, as above related, from Bray, sent her physician, 
Dr. Lewis, a Welshman, to the queen Elizabeth, who was then 
in sanctuary at Westminster. He was fixed upon, because he 
was not only trustworthy, but was also possessed of superior 
talents ; and besides, in his character as physician, he was less 
liable to suspicion. He went accordingly, and acquainted the 
queen with the intended project; which was to depose Richard, 
and to make the earl of Richmond king in his room, provided 
she would consent that he, upon his accession, should be united 
in marriage to her daughter the princess Elizabeth ; or in case 
of Elizabeth's death, to her sister Cicily. The queen having 
signified her approbation, Dr. Lewis then waited on the duchess 
of Richmond, who was not only pleased with the result, but 
also sent a special messenger, Hugh Conway, into Brittany, to 
inform her son of what was going on in England. At the same 
time, to insure safety, Thomas Ram was dispatched by Richard 
Guilford upon the same errand. Upon their arrival they had 
an audience with the earl, who acquainted the duke of Brittany 
with the purport of their coming. The duke rejoiced at hear- 
ing the intelligence, especially as he had a little previously re- 
fused to acquiesce in king Richard's solicitations to have the 
earl delivered up to him. The messengers returned with an 
assurance from Richmond of his hearty concurrence in the pro- 
ceedings of his friends in England, and of his readiness to land 
amongst them as soon as they thought it proper and prudent 
for him to undertake the enterprise. 

At the time that the duke of Buckingham was concocting 
his revolutionary measures, he and sir Rice ab Thomas were at 
variance one with the other ; for between the family of sir Rice 
and that of the duke there always had existed private feuds, 
and the most implacable hatred ; and they continually made 
predatory incursions into each other's territories. In one of 
his poems • our bard gives an account of one of those inroads, 

° Dosp. II. xi. 






WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XXXI 

in which he describes the duke as advancing to attack Aber- Rich. III. 
marlais P, and how he was compelled, through the valour of sir 
Rice and his brethren, to retreat. To gain over a man so 
powerful and wealthy as sir Rice was, must have been of the 
utmost consequence ; for without his concurrence it would have 
been in vain for the earl of Richmond to attempt a landing at 
Milford Haven,, as had been fixed by the conspirators. It was 
therefore deemed necessary, in the first place, to devise means 
of reconciling these parties; but how this was to be effected was 
the question ; for only a few days before, sir Rice<i had sent the 
duke a challenge to a deadly combat, stating, that if he would 
not meet him at Caermarthen he might expect to see him be- 
fore his castle at Brecknock. However, just as sir Rice was 
putting on his armour, making himself ready to carry his threat 
into execution, Dr. Lewis, who had been sent by the countess 
of Richmond, and who had been not only successful in his 
former missions, but also had been a tutor to sir Rice, waited upon 
him, and prevailed with him, after much persuasive eloquence, 
to accept the duke's friendship. Dr. Lewis then hastened to 
Brecknock, and there also he was successful in gaining over the 
duke to be on friendly terms with sir Rice : so that they both 
in a short time afterwards met by appointment at Trecastle r , 
where they buried their animosities in oblivion. In his inter- 
view with sir Rice, Dr. Lewis, it is stated, did not acquaint 
him of the existence of an organized party to bring over the 
duke of Richmond, thinking it best to leave that part of the 
business in the hands of their mutual friend, Morgan of Kid- 
welly, who was, when a fit opportunity offered itself, to disclose 
to sir Rice the whole affair ; and at the same time to call to 
his mind Richard's tyranny, as well as the wickedness of his 
unjust usurpation ; and then state what great good to the king- 
dom might be expected from the union of the houses of York 
and Lancaster, by the marriage of Richmond with the princess 
Elizabeth ; and lastly, to point out to him what glory, among 
other things, that would redound to himself and his posterity 
from assisting in bringing about so desirable a consummation. 

Sir Rice did not join the disaffected party until after he had 
been waited upon by commissioners sent by the king, to demand 

P Abermarlais, a mansion, in Caermarthenshire, near Llandovery. 

Q See Cambrian Register, vol. I. p. 82., &c. 

r Trecastle is about midway between Abei-marlais and Brecknock. 



XXX11 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 




Rich. III. of him an oath of allegiance ; and, at the same time, to deliver 
up his only son, Griffith Rice, as an hostage and pledge of 
fidelity. He took the oath; but wrote s to the king excusing 
himself from delivering up the child on account of his tender 
age, he being then about five years old. Sir Rice was greatly 
nettled as well as mortified at these proceedings, especially at 
the thought that the king should suspect him of disloyalty to 
his person. And finding also that others were served in a 
similar manner, he was greatly grieved at the king's proceedings, 
which he deemed to be highly dangerous to the interests of the 
crown. From this time sir Rice began to grow discontented; 
which Morgan of Kidwelly perceiving, he thought it a fair op- 
portunity of opening his mind to him. And as he had already 
gained over to his side the bishop of St. David's and the abbot of 
Talley, he got them also to speak to him. But it was a long 
time before they could induce him to declare himself favourable 
to Richmond's cause, especially as he had so lately renewed his 
allegiance to the king. However, the bishop, with the assistance 
of the abbot, in his endeavours to remove the scruples he had 
relative to the violation of his oath, did not finally succeed until 
sir Rice himself perceived that the nation at large was dissa- 
tisfied with the government, which was threatened with ruin 
from all quarters of the kingdom. 

The part which the duke of Buckingham took, the failure of 
his attempt, and his final execution, are too well known for us 
here to enter into particulars concerning him. We shall there- 
fore only observe, that his scheme perished through his own 
precipitancy in going against Richard with an army of Welsh t } 
ill provided for, and consisting entirely of the lower classes ; so 
that, when the duke was unexpectedly detained in his march by 
the sudden overflow of the river Severn, and was unable to 
victual his army, they had no alternative but to return to their 
homes. 

When sir Rice ab Thomas heard of the duke of Bucking- 
ham's disaster, and the summary manner in which he was exe- 
cuted, he began to be alarmed for fear the friends of Richmond 
should, in consequence, become discouraged, and their cause 



Duke of 
Bucking- 
ham was 
beheaded 
at Salis- 
bury, 2nd 
Nov. 1483 



s The letter is dated, Caermarthen Castle, 1484. See Cambrian Register, 
vol. I. p. 86. 

t See Cambrian Register, vol. I. "p. 91. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XXX111 

weakened. He therefore summoned a meeting, at which were Rich. III. 
present the bishop of St. David's, the abbot of Talley, Morgan 
of Kidwelly, and the following experienced soldiers, Arnold 
Butler, Richard Griffith,, and sir John Morgan. At this meet- 
ing it was that sir Rice came to the final resolution of espousing 
Richmond's cause ; to whom then he wrote a letter, which was 
sent by Morgan of Kidwelly., tendering his services. It was 
indeed a great acquisition to the earl thus to gain the support 
of sir Rice, who was not only a veteran in the feats of arms, 
but also a person of great wealth, and of unbounded influence 
in the country. In this description. of him we are more than 
borne out by the bard, who said : 

Trawst yw 'r sant tros y tair Sir, 
Tros wledydd, tras Elidir ". 
Eiddil yw llu i ddal llys, 
Wrth un a borthai ynys ; 
Ni roi gant o wyr i gyd 
A roes hwn er ys enyd ; 
Mae 'n wr hefyd, mewn rhyvel, 
Mwy no Dug i'r man y del. 
Da gwyr ef dagr y drin, 
Dewrvab oedd, darvu byddin. 

Gutto'r Glyn. 

Immediately upon its being made known what had expired at 
the meeting, sir Rice was joined by sir Thomas Perrot, of 
Haroldston, near Haverfordwest ; sir John Wogan, of Wiston 
Castle, Pembrokeshire ; and John Savage ; and also by several 
gentlemen from North Wales, especially the Salisburys, under 
the command of sir Robert Salisbury, who had been his friend 
in the French wars. These Salisburys were so firmly united to 
Rice and his family, that the expression *' Salsbriod y Brain v ," 
or the Ravens' friends, became proverbial. 

When Richard was informed of the state the country was in, 1484. 
he issued a proclamation w ? dated 23rd of June, in which he 
addresses his subjects in the most artful manner, with the view 
to inflame the minds, not only of the multitude, but of the 
peers, bishops, dignitaries, and great men, and to induce them 
to resist, with all their power, the attempts of the earl of Rich- 

u See Pedigree, p. 130. 

v Alluding to sir Rice's armorial bearings. See Cambrian Register vol. I. 
p. 99. 

w See Paston Letters, vol. II. pp. 319-327. 331. 

c 



XXXIV HISTORICAL, SKETCH OF THE 

Rich. III. mond upon the crown. Another proclamation to the same 
14851 effect was issued on the 20th of October, and signed by John 
de la Pole, duke of Suffolk. 

The earl of Richmond, in the meanwhile, knowing what 
preparations were going on for his reception, greatly exerted 
himself, and wrote letters to several of his friends, among 
others, to John ab Meredith x , sir Owen Tudor's cousin, urging 
him to a faithful and zealous activity in his cause. The bards 
also employed their talents in disseminating prophecies among 
their countrymen, which foretold that one of their race would 
shortly emancipate them from the English yoke. But among 
the most influential and active was Davydd Llwyd ab Llywelyn 
ab GrufyddY of Mathavarn, who greatly contributed, no less by 
his wealth than by his poetry, to Richmond's success. Lewis 
Glyn Cothi z followed in his train, and we have accordingly in 
the volume before us specimens of his art in the enigmatic 
poetry. Sir Rice ab Thomas had also his bard a , who, when 
he was consulted by him, said : 

Full well I wend, 

That in the end 

Richmond, sprung from British race, 

From out this land the boar shall chace. 

Thus we see that when it was currently rumoured that 
Richmond would surely land, and as his party was daily 
increasing, the poets began to speak their minds more openly. 
Lewis Glyn Cothi b , addressing himself to Jasper Tudor, thus 
describes the tiptoe and impatient expectation that in Wales 
existed of his landing : 

Pa vor y mae d' angorau ? 

Pa bwnt He 'r wyt hwnt, wr tau ? 

Pa bryd, (pa hyd y'n hoedir ?) 

Y tarw du y troi i dir ? 

Gwyl Vair, gwylia o voroedd, 

Gwynedd wen dan ganu 'dd oedd. 

x See the letter in " The History of the Gwydir family," p. 55. 4to. 
Ruthin, 1827. 

y See notes to Dosp. VII. vi. 

z See Dosp. VIII. i. iii. 

a See Cambrian Register, vol. I. p. 98. 

b See Dosp. VIII. v. 



WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XXXV 

Mis Mai, di vai yw dy vodd, Rich. III. 

Od wyt draw, y doit drwodd : 

Duw ! Awst, gwedi ei estyn, 

Y doit : ti a oedit hyn : 

O rod i rod p'le 'r yd wyt ? 

Sori ddyn aros ydd wyt ? 

O chysgaist pan vych wisgi, 

Arglwydd Penvro defro di ; 

Tiria, y bwla ! heb oludd ; 

Truan yw 'n rhwym tro ni 'n rhydd. 

But Richmond, after all, did not keep his countrymen in too Earl of 

long a suspense ; for he landed on Saturday the 6th of August, Rlchmom * 

amid their shouts and acclamations at Milford Haven, where he Milford 

was met by sir Rice ab Thomas at the head of a well-disci- H ^ ven - 

1485. 
plined army. After that, by mutual arrangements, the earl 

marched to Cardigan, where he was met c by Richard Griffith, 
and sir John Morgan with their followers ; from thence he 
proceeded to North Wales, making his way to Shrewsbury, the 
place of rendezvous, and sir Rice by the way of Caermarthen 
and Brecknock. Their armies increasing as they went along, 
they had mustered strong by the time they reached Shrews- 
bury, where the earl was received by the inhabitants with every 
demonstration of joy. From Shrewsbury he went to Newport, 
where he was joined by sir George Talbot d , at the head of 
2,000 men; from thence he went to Stafford, in the neighbour- 
hood of which place sir W. Stanley e , chamberlain of North 
Wales, brother to Thomas lord Stanley, was in readiness to join 
him, at the head of 3,000 Welshmen ; and having held a con- 
sultation with him, he then proceeded to Lichfield ; and thence 
to Adderstone, where he had an interview also with Thomas 
lord Stanley, his father-in-law. 

Richard was at Nottingham when the intelligence reached 
him of Richmond's landing. The news of which he did not 
1 receive until after the earl's arrival at Shrewsbury f ; and when 
I the fact was told him, he did not regard it a matter of that 
great importance which it soon became. The probability is, that 
he did not at first receive a full and faithful report of the extent 
of the earl's army ; for if he had, he would, as a valiant prince, 



c Carte. d Cambrian Register, vol. I. p. 108. e Carte. 

f Cambrian Register, vol. I. p. 109. 



XXXVI 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OP THE 



Rich. III. 

1485. 



The king 
arrives at 
Leicester. 



Battle of 
Bosworth, 
2,2nd Aug. 



King Rich- 
ard slain. 

Henry, earl 
of Rich- 
mond, 
crowned in 
the field of 
battle. 



have set forward to meet his competitor, and not have remained S 
where he was, to celebrate, on the 15th of August, the " Assump- 
tion of our Lady." However great his veneration might have been 
for the day, yet his fears of losing a crown, for the possession 
of which he had ventured every thing, would have been still 
greater ; and would immediately, despite of the day, have urged 
him to take some active measures. His reliance on the fidelity 
of sir Rice ab Thomas, and others of his powerful subjects in 
South Wales, might have, in some measure, contributed to his 
seeming security ; for it was not until he heard that sir Rice 
had joined Richmond, that he became sensible of the danger 
that threatened him. He then made every possible haste and 
preparation for a battle ; and having collected a powerful army, 
he, on Tuesday the 16th of August, marched at its head 
towards Leicester, in which town he took up his quarters. On 
the Sunday, the 21st of August, he proceeded from thence, and 
encamped that night about two miles from Bosworth. Henry, 
who was at Tamworth, where his army had been greatly aug- 
mented, marched early on Monday morning, the 22nd of 
August, and arrived at a plain called Redmore, lying between 
the villages of Sutton and Dadlington. It was there, and in 
the field of Sutton, the battle began. 

When the archers on both sides had shot their arrows, and 
came to a close fight, the lord Stanley and his brother sir Wil- 
liam joined Henry with their corps ; and rendered him superior 
to the enemy, considering what number of the latter declined 
fighting. Richard seeing himself betrayed, and that all the 
Welsh had revolted from him, asked for a goblet of wine ; then 
calling to him Rhys Vychan h , one of his squires, drank unto 
him in these words : " Here, Vychan, I will drink to thee, the 
truest Welshman that I ever found in Wales ;" and having 
drunk the wine, he threw the goblet over his head, and made 
towards his enemies, where he was immediately slain. Shortly 
after the battle Richard's crown being found among the spoils, 
lord Stanley placed it on Henry's head, amid the joyous shouts 
of the army. 

When it was known that Richmond had won the field, the 
Welsh bards Celebrated the victory in their addresses to 



g See duke of Norfolk's letter in Paston Letters, vol. II. p. 335. 
h See Cambrian Quarterly Magazine, vol. III. p. 41. 






WARS BETWEEN THE RIVAL ROSES. XXXV11 

Henry VII. ; among the foremost we find Davydd Llwyd Henry VII. 
Llywelyn ab Gruffydd, whose name has already been before the 
reader. We will introduce the following extract from his poem, 
as translated by the right honourable Mr. Justice Bosanquet : 

King Harry hath fought, and bravely done, 

Our friend the golden crown hath won. 

The bards resume a cheerful strain ; 

For the good of the world little R. was slain. 

That straddling letter, pale and sad, 

In England's realm no honour had : 

For ne'er could R., in place of I i, 

Rule England's people royally ; 

Nor stem the foe with puissant hand, 

Nor in the breach like Edward stand. 

How odious the vile cur to spy, 

With withered shank for brawny thigh, 

Partake the banquet's circling cheer, 

Where Gloucester's cunning cheats the ear ! 

Lewis Glyn Cothi k also wrote a congratulatory address to 
Henry VII., in which he introduces the name of Jasper Tudor, 
accompanied with high and flattering compliments. 

Henry was crowned at Westminster on the 30th of October, Hiscoro- 

by the title of king Henry VII. *, when he established a band na £on. 

1485. 

i The person of Richard III. expressed by the letter R, is here contrasted 
with the tall upright form of Edward IV., expressed by the letter I. It may 
be observed that I. is the initial of the Welsh name for Edward, Iorwerth. 
The Welsh is as follows : 

Llyna veirdd yn llawenach 
Llwyddo byd, a lladd R. bach : 
Llythyren avlawen lwyd, 
Forchawg, yn Lloegr ni pharchwyd. 
Ni allai 'r R. yn lie 'r I, 
Ruwlio Lloegr nai rheoli. &c. 
k Dosp. VIII. xi. 
* Owen Tudor, == Catharine of France, widow of Henry V. , and mother 
of Penmynydd in to Henry VI. 



'Anglesea. 



Edmund, earl of Richmond, 
(See his Elegy, Dosp. VIII. x.) 



Jasper Tudor, earl of Pembroke. 

Jane, only daughter and heir of John 
Beaufort, third marquis of Dorset, earl 
of Kendal, and duke of Somerset. 



Henry VII. = Elizabeth, daughter of 
Edward IV. 
Henry VIII. 



xxxvm 



HISTORICAL SKETCH &C. 



[486. 
His mar 
riage. 

Prince 
Arthur 
born. 



Henry VII. of fifty archers m , who were termed yeomen of the guard. On 
the 1 8th of January he married the lady Elizabeth of York. A 
rebellion soon after broke out, headed by lord Lovell, which 
was speedily quelled by Jasper Tudor, duke of Bedford. In 
the month of September prince Arthur was born ; and sir Rice 
ab Thomas being appointed his guardian, our bard composed an 
ode n , addressed to sir Rice and the duke of Bedford ; in which 
he greatly rejoices in the happy termination of events that had 
placed the earl of Richmond on the throne ; and in the prospect 
of peace, with which the country, too long harassed by internal 
commotions, would be blessed. Now this being the last 
written poem in the present collection of our bard's effusions, 
and as he makes no mention of the insurrection attempted by 
the duchess of Burgundy, by means of the pretender Perkin 
Warbeck, nor yet of the rebellion raised in Cornwall, and 
headed by lord Audeley, it appears that the reader has been 
brought to the final period of those events, to which allusion is 
made in the present volume; here, therefore, must conclude 
the narration of those historical passages with which it has been 
thought proper to illustrate the poems of Lewis Glyn Cothi, 



TEGID. 



Christ Church, Oxford, 
July 10th, 1839. 



See Dosp. VIII. xi. note to line 52. 



■ Dosp. II. x. 




LLWYTH SY 



THE TRIBE OF SIR DAVID GAM, KNIGHT BANNI 



Ellen, daughter and heiress of Einion 
lord of Cantrev Selyv. 



Bleddyn ab Maenyrch= 
the last Welsh sove- 
reign of Brecknock, 
slain in battle, circa 
A. D. 1100. 



-Ellen, sister of Rhys ab Tewdwr, 
prince of South Wales. 



Gwrgan ab Bleddyn=Gwenllian, da. of PhiUip de Wiz, lord of Wiston, 
county of Pembroke. 
The fourth in descent 
fro m Gwrgan, was ] 

Einion Sais= da. of Hywel ab Maredydd ab Caradog. 

The third in descent 
from Ei nion Sais, was ] 

Llywelyn ab Hywel==Mallt, da. of Ieuan ab Rhys ab Ieuan, of Elvael. 



Maredydd ab Morgan. 
(Dosp. I. 4, 5.) 

I 



Davydd ab Llywelyn, 

the patronymic of sir Davydd Gam, hence the 
Fluellin of Sha kespeare. 

= Morgan ab syr Davydd Gam, 
of Peyton, near Brecknock. 
1 (Dosp. I. 2.) 



da. of Llywelyn ab Hywel 
Grach, esq. 



Gwenllian. 
Dosp. I. 3. 



Sir William ab Thomas = G 
(y marchog glas o 
Went), second hus- 
band. Obiit. 1446. 



Sir William Herbert, knt. ; lord 
Herbert de Gower, 1462 ; and 
earl of Pembroke, 1468 ; be- 
headed at Banbury, 1469. 
(Dosp. I. 18.) 



Sir Richard Herbert, of 
Colebrook, near Aber- 
gavenny, knt. 

(Dosp. I. 19, 20.) 



Watkin Vaughan= 
of Bredwardine, 
esq. (eldest son.) 



William Vaughan, constab 
Aberystwyth Castle, 
(Dosp. I. 21, 22.) 



Watkin Vaughan, of Herast, 
esq. eldest son of Thomas 
ab Rosser. 

(Dosp. 1. 10,11.) 



Richard Vaughan, lord of 
Bleddvach. 

(Dosp. I. 12.) 



Ales, da. of T 
(Dosp. 



Sir Thomas Vaughan, of Tre Tower, knt. = Sibyl, (Isabe 
(Dosp. I. 14.) of Gwent 



Roger Vaughan. 
(Dosp. I. 13.) 



Watkin Vaughan. 
(Dosp. I. 13. 



Henry Vaughan. 
(Dosp. I. 13.) 



[To face p. 1.] 



DD GAM 



(PEYTON, IN THE COUNTY OF BRECKNOCK, 



nb Dryfin, prince of Brecknock 



Drumbenog, lord of=Gwenllian, da. of Iestyn ab Gwrgan, 
Ca ntrev Selyv. j lord of Glamorgan. 

Moreiddig Warwyn=Elin, da. of the lord Rhys of South Wales, 
lord of Cantrev 
Selyv. 
The fifth in descent 
f rom Moreiddig, was ] 

Roger Vychan ( Vaughan)== .... da. and heir of sir Ralph Baskerville, knt. 
of Llechry, called Roger 
Vawr. 



Wallter Sais : 



Roger Vaughan 
of Bredwardine 
Castle 



. da. and co-heir of sir Walter 
Bredwardine, knt. 



= Jane, da. of sir Walter Devereux, knt. 
(" y Devrasaid") 



(Dosp. I. 13.) 



sir = 
art. 
in- 
biit 



Sir Roger Vaughan, of 
Agincourt, knt. ban- 
neret, 1415. First 
husband. 



:s &r Henry Wogan, 



I vis Vaughan, 
)osp. I. 23.) 



Thomas ab Rosser, 
(second son), be- 
headed at Ban- 
bury, 1469.==Elen Gethin. 



Sir Roger Vaughan, 
of Tre Tower, knt. 
(3rd. son). 



(Dosp. 1.6,7.) 



(Dosp. 1. 12.) 



1= Robert Whitney, lord of Roger Vaughan, of Claerwy, (now 

Whitney. Clairow), m Radnorshire. 



: Cecily, da. of Thos. 
ab Phylip Vychan, 
esq. heiress of Tal- 
garth, county of 
Brecknock. She is 
the " Dam Sisil" 
mentioned in the 
poem, Dosp. I. 13, 
line 7- 



i^gan ab Jenkin ab Phylip, 



Watkin Vaughan, of Talgarth, esq. 



Vaughan, or xai 
(Dosp\ I. 16, 17 



G W A I T H 
LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Y DOSPARTH I. 

LLWYTHAU GWENT, MORGANWG, BRYCHEINIOG, 

&c. 



I. 

MARWNAD GWLADUS ERCH DAVYDD GAM. 



The bard laments the death of Gwladus, whom he styles the star of Aber- 
gavenny, — the daughter of sir David Gam, — the strength and support of 
Gwent and the land of Brychan. So much was she beloved, that no less than 
three thousand attended her funeral. Her attention to religious duties is 
described as most exemplary ; and she is said to have descended from an an- 
cient and noble family. She is compared both to Marsia, queen of Cuhelyn, 
who was a discreet and an influential person ; and also to Gwladus Ddu, a 
great supporter and promoter of the Welsh language. The bard concludes 
by giving a description of her monument. 



Y SEREN o y Venni, 

At Duw a'r saint y troes hi ; 

Gwladus, lwyddiamms ddinam 5 

Oedd o gorf syr Davydd Gam. 4 

I. An elegy on Gwladus, daughter Herbert earl of Pembroke, and sir 

of sir David Gam : composed in 1454 Richard Herbert of Coldbrook near 

or 1455. She was married twice. Abergavenny ; both of Avhom were 

Her first husband was sir Roger beheaded by the Lancastrians after 

Vaughan of Tretower, who went their defeat at the battle of Danes- 

with his father-in-law to the battle more near Banbury in 1469. Sir 

of Agincourt in 1415, where both William ab Thomas was buried at 

lost their fives in saving that of the the priory in Abergavenny, in 1446; 

king, having just before their death and Gwladus his widow in the same 

received the honour of knighthood, vault in 1454. 

Her second husband was sir William 4. Syr Davydd Gam. " David Lle- 

ab Thomas of Rhaglan Castle, and welyn or David ab Llewelyn, gene- 

by him she had William, the first rally called David Gam, or squinting 



LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 



Bwriodd Duw dan bridd-do ir 
Braich i Went a Brychandir ; 
Nid llai'n mynu du'n ngwlad Went 
No theirmil yn ei tlierment. 
Galw ar Iesu tra vu vyw, 
Ac ar y grog a ory w ; 
Arglwyddes a santes oedd, 
O'r hen arglwyddi'r hanoedd. 
Mae ei meibion hirion hi 
I roi gwleddau'n arglwyddi. 
Marsia gynt, Cyminraes gall, 
Ar ddwy-iaith a roi ddeall ; 
A'i hil y bu'n Nhal-y-Bedd, 
Naw a'u henwaiTn vrenhinedd. 
Gwladus, a hi'n gweled saint, 
Oedd ail hon i ddal henaint ; 
hon y cawn vrenhinwaed, 
A Ieirll Gwent eurlliw o'i gwaed. 
Gwladus Ddu, ar Gymmru gynt, 
Iarlles oedd er lies iddynt ; 
Ar ol ei rhoi ar elawr, 



12 



16 



20 



24 



David, was the fourth in descent 
from Einion Sais, and inherited the 
estate and demesne of Castell Einion 
Sais : his father Llewelyn had also 
purchased the mansions and lands of 
Peyton, ( Wallice Peutyn,) now called 
Peityn gwyn, Peityn cm, and Peityn 
glas, in the parishes of Garthbrengy 
and Llanddew, from William Peyton, 
(the last Brecknockshire resident of 
that Norman family,) for three hun- 
dred marks." Jones's Hist, of Breck- 
nockshire, vol. i. p. 160. 

5. Bwriodd Duio, &c. " God hath 
laid under a damp coverlet of earth 
her who was an arm to Gwent 
and the land of Brychan." Gwent, 
one of the six grand divisions of Di- 
nevwr, but all that goes now under 
that name is only a small district in 
the county of Monmouth. Brychan - 
dir, the land of Brychan, Brecknock- 
shire, now also called Breconshire. 
The name is derived from Brychan, 
a prince or regulus of that country, 
who ruled over it about the year of 



Christ 400, and died in 450, or there- 
abouts. See Jones's Hist, of Breck- 
nockshire, vol. i. p. 1, &c. Myv.Arch. 
vol. ii. p. 29. Cambro-Briton, vol. i. 
pp. 169, 170. 

7. Nid llai, &c. "No less than 
three thousand all clad in mourning 
were present at her (interment) bu- 
rial." 

13. ei meibion hirion hi. Her son, 
sir Richard Herbert of Coldbrook, 
was called by the Welsh, by way of 
distinction, sir Richard Herbert hir, 
or the tall. 

15. Marsia, &c. Queen of Cu- 
helyn, the 24th king of Britain, 
according to Brut Gr. ab Arthur. 
See Myv. Arch. vol. ii. p. 158. 

16. a roi— a, roai. 

23. Gwladus Ddu, &c. daughter 
of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. She was 
married twice. Her first husband was 
Reginald de Breos; and the second, 
sir Ralph Mortimer, lord of Wig- 
more, by whom she had Roger Mor- 
timer, ancestor to Edward IV. 






Y DOSPARTH I. # 

Yr aeth leng oV iaith i lawr ; 

A heddyw mae'n rhoddi raedd 

O vron hono vrenhinedd. 28 

Ail Gwladus, haul goleudent 

Cymmry, oedd acw ym mro Went ; 

Dyhuno a cbyfrtii 

A wnaeth yn oes ein iaith ni. 32 

Ysgrin ar gysegr o Went 

Sy dy arglwyddes dw3^-Went ; 

Pond teg paentiad y gadair ! 

Pinagls val pen Eglwys Vair. 36 

Main beryl, nawmil yn wyn, 

Marmawr a mwy o ermyn. 

Bedd yr hoi] vonedd yw vo 

Oil, a growndwal Lloegr yndo. 40 

Mae'n gorwedd mewn gweryd 

Draw'n y bedd draian y byd. 

Yn seren ar ben y bedd 

9 

Y rhoed i gadw enrhydedd, 44 

Maes glas val cledd Pandrasus, 
A'r Hew lir; a'r lliw o lus. 



29. Ail Gwladus, &c. " A second Iscoed and Gwent Uwch Coed. 
Gwladus, who to the Cymmry was 35. Caclair, a tomb or monument. 

like the sun, the pavilion of light, 39,40. Beddyr holl,&c. "The tomb 

lived in the region of Gwent." of all the nobility it is ; the stay of 

33. Ysgrin, &c. " A shrine on a England is contained in it." This 
sacred spot in Gwent is the domicile last expression alludes to sir William 
of the lady of both the Gwents." ab Thomas being buried there, whose 
Here follows a description of the mo- mother was a Morley and his first 
nument in the priory at Aberga- wife a Berkley. 

venny, which is curious ; but difficult 40. Growndwal, sail, sylva ; a 
to be explained. It was a sarcopha- foundation, a stay. Yndo =ynddo. 
gus, with twelve angels (argent), 43. yn seren, &c. an allusion pro- 
three on each side with bugles sound- bably to her statue surmounting the 
ing the praises of the deceased hea- sarcophagus. 

ven-high; others with torches, or 45. Pandrasus, a king of Greece ; 

flambeaux, offering incense, — the according to Brut G. ab Arthur, 
flames ascending. Hermits, or rather 46. Hew lir. "Lion argent." Lir; 

monks, chaunting requiems for the lyre, lyire ; white complexion, 
departed souls. The monument most " Hir lyre wes lyk the lillie." 

probably was erected to the memory Chr. Kirk, st. 3 . 

of sir William ab Thomas before the The arms of the Herberts, descend- 

death of Gwladus his widow, who ants of sir William ab Thomas, were 

survived him eight years. party per pale, azure and gules, three 

34. Dwy- Went ; namely, Gwent lions rampant argent. 

B 2 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

O gylch y twr yn glych teg 

Duw a oedd, ev a'r deuddeg. 48 

Engylion gwynion iV gylch 

A drig bob dri iV ogylch ; 

Organau oil hyd vrig nev, 

Ac arianllais cor unllev ; 52 

Mil o dyrs amliw o dan, 

Mil eraill ami o arian ; 

Mwy no mil o veudwyaid 

Dan gwyr, bob deunaw, a gaid ; 56 

Yn nesav mae deunawsaint 

Yn bwrw naw sens ger bron saint. 

Main beryl cylch Syr Wiliam 

Oedd vedd gwyn merch Ddavydd Gam ; 60 

Duw a wnaeth i'r Deau nawdd, 

Duw Iesu a'i dewisawdd; 

Ac o'i rhyw'n benaig y rhawg, 

Y dewiswn dywysawg. 64 

53. Tyrs= torches. 58. sens = incense. 



Y DOSFAItTH I. 

II. 

MARWNAD MORGAN AB SYR DAVYDD GAM. 






Morgan is described as ranking first among the nobility ; and, by way of 
compliment, is styled the spotless stag of sir David Gam. His grave is stated 
to be in Llan Vaes ; and that over his remains the land of Brychan melted 
into tears like the falling of the rain on the festival of Cewydd, which lasted 
for forty successive days. His residence was at Peutyn, and his children 
were numerous. He is therefore in this respect compared to Llywarch Hen, 
who was a prince and a warrior ; and all his sons heroes. 



Y penaeth yn mhob bonedd 

Sy'n Llan Vaes winllan, a'i vedd; 

Morgan, carw divan Davydd 

Gam, yw'r sant i Gymmry sydd. 4 

Llan Vaes oil yw nev i wyr, 

Lie mae eilwaith Hew milwyr; 

Lie rhoed tarian a maneg 

Llan-Dduw dan y Hen ddu deg. 8 

Gwlad Vrychan am Vorgan vydd 

Ail i gawod wyl Gewydd. 

Deugain niau davnau dwvr 

Ar ruddiau ywV aweddwvr. 12 

Deugain mlynedd i heddyw 

Yr wyl y beirdd ar ol y byw. 

Dwyvil achaws mab Davydd 

A dwy vwy'n y Deau vydd. 16 



II. An elegy on Morgan ab sir Dduw, corruption of Llan Ddew, and 

David Gam. His arms, on the dex- both from Llan Ddewi. Theophilus 

ter side argent a chevron gules Evans, author of Drych y Priv 

between three cocks of the second, Oesoedd, in the last century, was 

are the arms of Einion Sais, borne by vicar of this parish as well as of Llan 

Morgan ab sir David Gam. The Gammarch. 

sinister, a chevron between three 10. Cewydd, a saint whose history 

spears' heads, were probably the arms is not known, to whom there is a 

of Morgan's wife from Aidan of church dedicated in Glamorgan. 

Gwent. 11. Deugain niau, &c. Forty 

2. Llan Vaes, St. David's, a church days. Diau=dyddiau. 

and parish adjoining the town of 14. yr ioyl—yr wylant. 
Brecknock. It is also called Llan 

b3 



D LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Edn Aber Hodni obaith, 

Silin oedd i seilio'n iaith. 

Yn y Peutyn un patent, 

Deutu Wysg hyd at dwy Went. 

Braich Cymmry wrth Groesty 'r grog, 

Bar a chynhor Brycheiniog. 

Ty Hu Gadarn teg ydoedd, 

Pwys ei dy ar un post oedd ; 24 

Pwys gwlad Vrychan yn rhanu, 

Ar ryw bost o \vr y bu. 

Y tir weithion, mal traethydd, 

Ar swrn o bilerau sydd. 28 

Mae irgoed o vrig Morgan 

Mewn y rhos yn mynu rhan. 

Aeth llawer o gyd-geraint 

Einion Sais hen yn saint. 32 

Bro Wysg a aeth yn brysgoed ; 

Ond gwyr a aned o'i goed. 

un cyff iawn yw caffael 

Deri, a hvvynt yn dra hael. 36 

Ev oedd ddar, ev oedd eryr, 
Vorgan ; aeth ei vrig yn wyr. 
Rhyhaval, drwy'r ardaloedd, 

1 Lywarch Hen; v'alarch oedd. 40 
I Lywarch y bu lewod, 

A gwae wyr byw Lloegr eu bod. 

I Vorgant, hyd Nant y Nordd, 

Ar Loegr mae'r ail welygordd. 44 

Plant Brychan a gyd ranodd, 

Plant sydd i Vorgant un vodd. 

Plant Evrog, oediog adail, 

dre lore hevyd yw'r ail. 48 

17- Aber Hodni— Aber Honddu, been acted in the bard's days upon 

tbe town of Brecknock. such stages in Wales. 

19. Peutyn, the family mansion. It is stated above (1. 24) that the 

27. Y tir weithion, &c. " The weight of Hu Gadarn's house rested 

land now (i. e. Morgan's estates) upon one pillar, that is, upon himself, 

rests upon many pillars, (i. e. upon The same might be said of Morgan's 

his children), like an actor" upon a whilst he lived ; but now that he was 

stage who is supported by many dead his estate was divided between 

props. the children. 

Some Scripture mysteries may have 43. Nant, &c. the river Humber. 



Y DOSPARTH I, 



Morgan oedd darian i'w dir, 

A braich hendaid Brychandir. 

Morgan oedd bum rhan i'r byd, 

A llyvr i bob lie bevyd. 52 

Llewod Morgant, blant un blaid, 

Ger bron gwyr yw Barwniaid. 

A Hew henddoeth gwyr Llan-Dduw, 

Yw 'r Barwn doeth ger bron Duw. 



b 4 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



III. 



I VORGAN AB RHYS O LAN DEILO VAWR, AC I WENLLIAN 
EI WRAIG ERCH MORGAN AB SYR DAVYDD GAM. 



In this poem addressed to Morgan, on his having succeeded to his father's 
property, the bard compliments him on his profuse liberality — the extent of 
his wealth — the kindheartedness and excellency of his wife. And then, as a 
faithful chronicler, he traces out their pedigree. 



Y llew rhy hael yn lie Rhys 

Yn ei winllan a'i wenllys. 

Morgan van Llandeilo Vawr 

Mae'n mynu mwy no maenawr; 4 

Hwn yw un hael, hyn yw 'nhyb, 

Hof o Wilym ab Philyb. 

Arver a ddel o werin, 

O Ronwy Goch ranu gwin ; 8 

Mae'r gwin gan Vorgan tra vo, 

A meddiant yma iddo. 

Nid hael dau hyd yn Euas, 

Ond dau o Ian Tywi las ; 12 

MaeV geiriau i ddau un ddeall ; 

Morgan, Gwenllian yw'r Hall ; 

Gwawr Vorgan o lin ddinam 

Dda, ac wyr syr Davydd Gam ; 16 



III. Addressed to Morgan ab Rhys Gwenllian. 

ab Gwilym ab Philip of Llandeilo 1. yn lie Rhys. " In the room of 

Vawr, and his wife Gwenllian daugh- Rhys," his father, 

ter of Morgan, son of sir David Gam. 7« Arver a ddel, &c. " Custom is 

Morgan ab Rhys is described as a derived from the multitude ; but from 

descendant of Elystan Glodrydd : and Gronwy Goch, to dispense the wine." 

by the arms given him — argent three 12. o Ian Tywi. Morgan lived near 

boars' heads couped sable (penau the Tywi. 

baeddod) he was from Cadwgan, son 14 — 17. Gwenllian, &c. "The other 

of Elystan. The bard also grants is Gwenllian of Morgan (her father)'s 

him the arms of Urien, (see 1. 33) in complexion, of good and unexception- 

the right of his wife. Gwenllian is able line, being the grandaughter of 

iaid (in lines 23, 24) to be first cou- sir David Gam." 

sin to William Herbert, earl of Pern- 16. wyr, a grandchild, whether 

broke. See Dosp. I. 2. the elegy male or female, 
on the death of Morgan, father of 






y DOSPAltTH I. y 

Un rhodd, un vodd, un veddwl, 

Yw bun a Maredydd Bwl. 

Ni chad ryw, o'r chweched ran, 

Wraig well o Roeg all an ; 20 

Ar ddau win yr eiddunais 

Enwau naw sel Einion Sais; 

Cyvnither ydyw'r seren, 

nev vry, i iarll Penvro wen ; 24 

Morgan yntau a hany w 

O'r un vam orau yn vyw ; 

O bumrhan Elystan lwyth, 

A bron iawnllin breninllwyth ; 28 

Ar darian Vorgan rhaid vod, 

(Oni bydd) benau baeddod ; 

Pasgen ab Urien, un barch, 

Hyd ganved o waed Gynvarch ; 32 

Mae i Vorgan deirbran, od oedd, 

O ran waed Urien ydoedd ; 

Gwenllian, mae'i hwythran hi 

O ranau Llyr Merini ; 36 

O Garadog yr ydyw 

At y gwraidd, a'i phetigryw ; 

Dwyvron Degau Eurvron gynt 

O Garadog yr ydynt ; 40 

A thri phen gwayw, ac ermyn, 

Iso i'w mab hi, os myn. 

O Ddewi Wyn ! pwy o'r ddau 

Yr uchav ei lly vr achau ? 44 

Y verch hon o Vrycheiniawg, 

A'i gwr y w'r hwn gorau rhawg ; 

Dau a ran da yr ynys, 

Dau yn rhoi i gadw enw Rhys. 48 

Un Duw rhoed ddawn gyvlawn gwych 

IV ddau oesydd urddaswych ; 

18. Maredydd Bwl, a person so 36. Llyr Merini. A saint who 

named in pedigree. His arms, ar- lived in the latter part of the fifth 

gent, a bull passant sable, armed and century, 

unguled argent. 39. Tegau Eurvron. One of the 

30. oni bydd =hyd oni bydd, " as three exalted ladies of the chivalrous 

long as he lives." court of Arthur. 



10 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

AH Haw y myn Gwenllian 

ftanu'r gost Tr hen a'r gwan ; 52 

Morgan a ran i bawb rodd, 

Yr hynaiv gynt a'i rhanodd ; 

Gwenllian, erch Vorgan, vydd 

(Ei wraig) un oed a'r gwinwydd : 56 

I henaint yr el hono, 

A'i hoedran ar Vorgan vo. 

57. yr el=yr eled. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 11 

IV. 

I VAREDYDD AB MORGAN AB SYR DAVYDD GAM. 



This ode is a good specimen of the clera address. And, be it observed, in 
the bard's time the clera (that is, minstrels, at stated times, perambulating 
the country from one gentleman's house to another, to receive contributions) 
was very frequent. And there can be no doubt but that several of our bard's 
compositions were written for such occasions. He however appears to have 
been a no mean minstrel ; for wherever he went, he received a hearty wel- 
come; and his poetry was listened to with attention. He was often, by 
means of his awen, able to rouse the warrior to deeds of arms ; and also from 
his inveterate hate of the English nation, to infuse the same spirit of hatred 
into his countrymen. He indeed in this particular succeeded but too well. 
See Dr. W. O. Pughe's Diet, under Cler> for an account of the origin, &c. of 
minstrelsy. 



Mi av cyn yr hav, vy rhan vu rhedeg 

At V'redydd ab Morgan ; 

Minnau gav yraa'n gyvan 

Mwy aur vath no thalm oV Van. 4 

Van uwch Deni i Vynyw, i Von ; 

1 Venni, i Gerny w ; 

I Gaerdyv, gorau ydyw 

Y dewr o dir Ytrad Yw. 8 

Ystrad Yw, Cerny w, yn cau arnam aed 
I wyr Davydd Gam ; 

Y Deau vo wlad ei vam, 

Iddo iso hyd Ewsam. 12 

Duram, ac Ewsam, ac asen Ystlwy, 
Ac ystlys mor Havren ; 



IV. Addressed to Maredydd ab nockshire Beacon, above the Llyn 

Morgan ab sir David Gam. He used Cwm Llwch. 

his father's arms, but changed the 9. Ystrad Yw. The district around 

party per pale into four quarters. See Crug Hywel, on the confines of the 

note to Dosp. I. 2. counties of Brecknock and Hereford. 

4. OV Van. The Sugar Loaf, a pic- It is divided into Ystrad Yw Uchav 
turesque conical rock, near Aberga- and Ystrad Yw Isav. 

venny. 12. Ewsam, the vale of Evesham, 

5. O Van uwch Deni. The Breck- Worcestershire. 



12 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Dwy Bowys a Chaer Swys wen, 

Dwy Wynedd gyda'i onen. 16 

Ev a'i onwayw a'i vwa annel, 

Yw braich Ystrad Yw, megys Brochwel ; 

A bod rhyw dramgwydd ar bob Gwyddel, 

Neu ar wyr y nordd yn naiar Nil. 20 

Ev yn cau arnai sy vaen cornel, 

Ev aeth a'r gware ; ev biau'r bel ; 

Ev a ai atynt hwy a'i vetel ; 

Ev a'i wyr hevyd, ev i'r rhyvel ; 24 

Ev y w'r dewrav a'r gvvayw uvel ; 

Ev yw'r haelav, yn cadw ei a\ael, 

dalvainc Bristo, dros dwy Elvael ; 

odre Lleyn, dros dir Lly wel ; 28 

Margaret erch Tomas rhoes win Rhosiel ; 

A chansaig ar wledd, a chwe honsel ; 

A chyda phob gwledd y medd oY mel ; 

Ac aur gydaV medd yn ddau gwarel ; 32 

Yno y dywaid hi yn dawel 

Obry a'i blasus barabl isel ; 

A ddon' o ddynion val at Ddaniel, 

Croesaw Duw wrthyn' o ddyn a ddel. 3d 

Hwn yw'r gorau yn dwyn swyddau dan sel; 
Hithau'n ail orau dan law Uriel ; 

15. Caer Swys ; an old Roman being the supporter and the strength 

station near the Severn in the parish of his country, 

of Llanwnog. 27- i?mfo= Bridstow, a parish in 

20. Ar wyr y nordd, &c. The Herefordshire. 

northern troops, who had killed Ma- 27- Elvael. A district in Radnor- 

redydd's cousins at the battle of Ban- shire, divided into Elvael Ismynydd 

bury, headed by sir Henry Nevill, and Elvael Uwchmynydd. 

here called Nil. He was taken pri- 28. O odre Lleyn, &c. Lleyn, 

soner at the battle, and executed by a promontory In Caernarvonshire. 

Herbert earl of Pembroke, which so Llywel, a church and parish in 

exasperated the Lancastrians that they Brecknockshire. 

in return would give the Welsh no 29. Gwin Rhosiel = R.ocheUe wine. 

quarter. 32. Ac aur yn ddau gwarel. 

21. maen cornel. "A corner-stone," "Pieces of gold of a quadrangular 
in masonry; the strength of the wall. form." Lewis Morris. 
Maredydd is here compared to it, as 38. Uriel, the name of an angel. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 13 

Nawdd Andras ar hwn ; nawdd Banasiel ; 

Nawdd Dduw ar hono ; a nawdd Rhiniel. 40 

Dau osawg a gyrch, wrth ddau dasel, 
I dyrauY awyr drwy yr awel ; 

Y gog a achub brig diogel 

I ganu , n awchus, ac yn uchel ; 44 

Uwch no dim y w nev drev ddidravael ; 

Yno i ddringo ydd a yr angel ; 

Dringav deg gauav uwch Crug Hywel, 

IV tai rhy-iachus, aV tir uchel. 48 

Am wyr Davydd Gam, nid val Hen gel, 

Y mae son yn Mon val Llyvr Manwel ; 
Iesu a'i gato yn ngwisg otel, 

I dynu naw swydd dan un sel. 52 

Mae rhai a lechai bob gwyl uchel ; 

Mae haelion gwychion ni char gochel ; 

Cybydd a ymgudd ac a ymgel ; 

Ni chais Maredydd na chudd, na chel. 56 

Pob gwledd a rhysedd, val rhoi wassel, 

A rydd Maredydd^ Mair iV adael ! 

Pob gwin ac arian, pob rhy w ganel ; 

Pupur ac oraens, pob rhyw gwrel ; o'O 

A phob da gobraf mae'n ei gafael ; 

A phob da a wnaeth val corf Abel ; 

A phob rhyw dyrva a wna, a wnel ; 

A phoed yn ganmlwydd ; arglwydd ydd el. 64 

39. Andras. A saint who lived in 50. Llyvr Manwel. A manual; 

the fifth century. a small book of devotion ; a breviary: 

39. Banasiel ; 40. Rhiniel ; names llaw-lyvr. 

invented by Arabian writers to re- 51. otel. A Photel, the cry of the 

present aerial beings, guardian an- heralds to the combatants, that they 

gels, daemons. should return to their dwellings. 

41. Gosawg, Gosshawk ; gwalch ; MeyricWs Ancient Armour ', vol. ii. 

frequently used as a complimentary p. 190. 

term like eryr, hydd, Hew, &c. Tasel, 58. Mair Vw adael. " The Virgin 

tassel, a male hawk: llymysten,cudyll, Mary permitting (allowing) him." 

ciryll. 59. Canel, cinnamon. 



14 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



V. 



MARWNAD MAREDYDD AB MORGAN AB 
SYR DAVYDD GAM. 



3 the 



The bard appears astonished that no one had come forward to avenge 
premature death of Maredydd ; and, as one wearied of the delay, opens his 
poem with great spirit, demanding the reason of such neglect. The least 
punishment, he says, that could be executed upon his enemies was to have 
sacrificed the life of twelve of them ; but not even this had been done. He 
is inconsolable on account of the death of Maredydd ; and, as it were, turn- 
ing himself towards Llan Vaes, where Maredydd and his father were buried, 
confesses that he had a mournful strain to pour forth there over departed 
worth. Immediately upon this, as if inspired with the spirit of prophecy, he 
solemnly declares that Maredydd's death should not remain unavenged ; for 
that the men of Ystrad Yw would rise to arms, and summon the entire 
country to their assistance. He then states that it would be difficult to find 
his like again ; and how painful it was to live without him. And, in con- 
clusion, he promises himself a pilgrimage to Llan Vaes, to view the two 
graves that were near the altar. 



Ba ddelw na bai ddialedd 

Am un a vai mewn ei vedd ? 

Am nodi vy mhenadur 

Y del dost dial a dur; 4 

Lleia"* tal^ pe gellid hyn, 

Oedd gael deuddeg o'i elyn ; 

A dwyn ei genedl yn dal, 

Es dwyoes nid oes dial. 8 

Ym y rhoed, er mwyhau rhus, 

Ddwy alarwisg ddolurus; 

Gwn Varedydd gan vrodiad, 

A gwn du Morgan ei dad. 12 



V. An elegy on Maredydd ab Mor- He was entombed contiguous to his 
gan ab sir David Gam. In the last father's monument, near the altar, 
ode Maredydd is represented as one in the church of St. David's, adjoin- 
of the warriors of that warlike age ; ing the town of Brecknock, 
and it appears by the poem before us 1 — 2. Bai,a vai = byddai, a vyddai. 
that he fell in the pursuit of his fa- 8. Es dwyoes, &c. " For too long 
vourite amusement. It is probable a time has Maredydd's death remain- 
that Maredydd fell in a skirmish be- ed unavenged." 
tween the abettors of the rival roses. 9 — 12. Ym v rhoed, &c. " To me 



Y DOSPARTH I. 15 

Y mae awdl yn amadlaes 

A luniav vi i Lan Vaes ; 

Ac ar bob pennill trillev 

A glywir dros gwaliau'r drev. \Q 

Bwrw Jlew glew val mab iarll glan 

A bair ochi'n nhir Brychan ; 

Gwyr a wna, o Gernyw i Ial, 

Ystrad Yw vwstr a dial ; 20 

Liu dwy-Went oil a'i diail 

Ac o Lys Wen Eglwys lail. 

Anaml yw, hyd Nanmel hwnt, 

Ei ail yma wyl Emwnt ; 24 

Suliau, a Grawys eilwaith, 

A diwedd g\vyl a dydd gwaith ; 

Nadolig, pa'm nad wylwn ? 

Hevyd y Pasc vod heb hwn. 28 

Ni a awn bawb yn unnod 

Hyd Lan Vaes lie dylwn vod ; 

Lie maen' oil yn min allawr, 

Dau wely mewn adail mawr : 32 

Gwely murgalch gloyw Morgan, 

Gwely ei vab wrth gil y van. 

Cwyn prydydd ara V'redydd vry 

Oedd awdl, a chy wydd wedy ; 36 

Cwyn tant am ei vabsant vo, 

Oedd i V'redydd gerdd vrido. 



have been given, to increase my agi- 22. O Lys Wen, Sec. " From Llys 
tation, two mourning, pain-exciting Wen in Eglwys lail." Llys Wen, 
garments ; the one a vest of white on the banks of the Wye, was for- 
embroidery, which was Maredydd's ; merly one of the mansions of the 
and the other black, which had be- princes of South Wales. It was si- 
longed to his father." tuated in the comot of Eglwys lail in 

13 — 14. Y mae awdl, &c. " An Ystrad Yw Uchav, Brecknockshire, 

ode of heavy mournful strain is the 24. wyl Emwnt, the festival of St. 

one I design for Llan Vaes." Edmund, king and martyr, kept on 

19—20. Gwyr a wna &c. " The the 22d Nov. 

men of Ystrad Yw will invoke the 38. gerdd vrido. " An incentive 

whole country to arms from Corn- song," alluding probably to poem, 

wall to Ial." Ial, a comot in Den- Dosp. I. 4. 
bighshire. 



16 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



VI. 

MARWNAD THOMAS AB RHOSSER, ARGLWYDD HERA ST. 



This poem commemorates the battle of Danesmore. It opens with stating 
it to have been one of the most bravely contested engagements that ever took 
place in Christendom ; and in the next moment we are told how it was lost ; 
and what dreadful havoc the enemy committed there among the Welsh. The 
bard carries us, as it were, into the scene of conflict ; and we can fancy we 
hear the war-shout of the different battalions, and the clashing of arms. He 
describes lord of Herast, and his division, as having fought and suffered des- 
perately ; and how he fell at the head of his men like Arthur who was slain 
at the battle of Camlan. He next alludes to the valour, the mighty personal 
strength, and the virtues of the lord of Herast. After mentioning the death 
of others, who fell in the battle, he records the lamentation of Ellen Gethin, 
the widow of the deceased ; and promises that the death of the lord of Herast 
should be speedily avenged by his three sons. 



Y maes grymusa' o Gred, 
Ac o wall ev a golled ; 



VI. An elegy on Thomas ab 
Roger, lord of Herast. There was 
something like a fatality in the fa- 
mily ; for Thomas Vaughan, the sub- 
ject of the present poem, who was 
beheaded at Banbury in 1469, being 
close upon sixty years of age at the 
time, was the second son of sir Roger 
Vaughan, son-in-law of sir David 
Gam. See note to Dosp. I. 1 . Thomas 
Vaughan was a man of extraordinary 
size and of great strength. In con- 
sequence of which he has been styled 
" Thomas Vawr, arglwydd Herast ;" 
and one of his Vaughan ancestors 
bore the appellation of Roger Vawr, 
father of Gwallter Sais. 

1 — 2. Y maes &c. " A most 
strenuously contested battle ; and it 
was through heedlessness that the 
field was lost." The enemy were 
at Danesmore in Northamptonshire, 
about five miles from Banbury. At 
the command of the king (Ed- 
ward IV.) the earl (Herbert) of 
Pembroke had hastily drawn toge- 
ther ten thousand Welshmen; and 
when he arrived at Llandeilo Vawr 
made his will on the altar in the 
church, reserving 4000 marks of his 



own money in pocket to defray ex- 
penses. On his arrival at Banbury 
he was joined by lord Stafford with 
800 bowmen ; but the two chiefs 
quarrelling about lodgings at Ban- 
bury, they separated forces. But 
Pembroke hazarding an engagement 
was defeated, and taken ; and behead- 
ed the next day at Banbury. Compare 
sir Thomas Herbert's account with 
that of Hume. 

Although the above untoward cir- 
cumstance contributed greatly to the 
discomfiture of the Yorkists ; yet the 
following anecdote will explain more 
precisely the bard's meaning, as well 
as the real cause why the battle was 
lost, when he says that it was lost 
o wall, that is, from heedlessness, or 
want of caution and self-possession. 

"The earl of Pembroke fought with 
the most determined bravery, as did 
his brother sir Richard Herbert, who 
with his poleaxe in his hand forced 
his way twice through the enemy's 
ranks and returned in safety. Vic- 
tory was on the point of declaring for 
the Welshmen, when a ruse de guerre 
turned the fortune of the day. John 
Clapham, esq. one of the retainers of 



Y DOSPARTH I. 



17 



Yn Manbri y bu'r dial 

Ar Gymmru deg, a mawr dal ; 

Yno clywid, yn unawr, 

Griaw maes rhwng gwey wyr mawr ; 

Rhai Harbart, rhai'n Edwart ni, 

Iarll Warwic, eraill Harri. 

Dan vaner arglwydd Herast 

Y buV tor, a'r briw, a'r fast; 

Tomas, rhwng y,ddwy sias ddig, 

Ab Rhosser a'r par ysig. 

Arthur, pan vu'n ei guras, 

Yn mlaen llu Camlan y lias ; 



12 



the earl of Warwick, was seen mount- 
ing up the eastern hill ; and though 
only attended by 500 of the rabble 
from Northampton and the neigh- 
bouring villages, he displayed in front 
the banner of the earl with the white 
bear, and his followers raising a shout 
of " Warwick ! Warwick !" the 
Welshmen thinking the great earl 
was actually advancing with his 
forces, fled in utter dismay, and were 
slain by their pursuers without mercy; 
insomuch that 5000 were left dead in 
the field, including sir Roger Vaugh an, 
Henry ab Morgan, Thomas ab Ri- 
chard Vaughan, and Watkin Thomas, 
son of sir Roger Vaughan. Among 
the prisoners were the earl of Pem- 
broke, and his brother sir Richard 
Herbert, who with ten other gentle- 
men, were taken to Banbury, and 
there beheaded." Baker's History of 
Northamptonshire, vol. i. p. 500. 

5 — 6. Yno clywid, &c. " There 
was heard in one simultaneous shout, 
a crying out among the mighty spear- 
men, some calling Herbert, some Ed- 
ward, others the earl of Warwick, 
and others Henry." 

7. Harbart. Sir William Herbert, 
earl of Pembroke, who received that 
title on the forfeiture of Jasper Tu- 
dor after the siege of Harlech castle. 

rhai'' n Edwart ni. " Some call- 
ing our Edward," i. e. Edward IV. 
From the bard's introducing here the 
pronoun our (ni) ; and also from his 
employing his pen to lament the fall of 
the partisans of Edward, one would 
be inclined to infer that he was a 
Yorkist. But as he is reported to 



have been a Lancastrian in the ser- 
vice and pay of Jaspar Tudor, it is 
not unlikely but that he might have 
been hired to write by Elin Gethin, 
the widow of the lord of Herast, or 
Hergest, in Herefordshire ; whence 
came the MS. called Llyvr Coch, now 
in the lihrary of Jesus College, Ox- 
ford. However, it would seem, after 
all, that he was attached in earnest to 
neither party ; for in this poem he 
does not lament that the Yorkists 
were defeated at Banbury ; but what 
occasioned his full grief was the fall 
of his countrymen there. He was 
national to excess ; and his antipathy 
to the English was extreme. 

8. Iarll Warwic. The earl of 
Warwick, who had been sent out to 
the court of France to cany on a 
negociation there for the marriage of 
the princess of Savoy with (Edward) 
the king of England, on his return 
finding that the king had secretly 
married Elizabeth, widow of sir John 
Grey, and daughter of the duchess of 
Bedford by her second husband sir 
Richard Wideville, was in conjunc- 
tion with Lewis, king of France, so 
greatly incensed against Edward, that 
he ever afterwards endeavoured to 
have him dethroned. 

eraill Harri. Henry VI. who was 
at this time confined in the tower 
by order of Edward. 

11. Sias, a chase (at tennis); a 
game ; a play : pel-odrig ; chwareu. 
Here an encounter, a fight, a com- 
bat, or engagement : ymgyrch, ym- 
ladd, ymosawd. 






18 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ac yntau'i hun ac nid hawdd 

A dwylaw a\i dialawdd. 16 

Tomas a las val Iesu, 

A phan las a phen ei lu ; 

Tomas yn ei guras gwyn 

A'i talawdd hwnt i'w elyn ; 20 

Petai ddwrn tradwrn, aV tri 

Mwya" unbraint, yn Manbri ; 

Ev a wnai a wnelai naw 

Wedi'r ellwng law drallaw. 24 

Ni chavas lie lias y Hall, 

Gwir gwyr y gwr, ac arall ; 

A phei cawsoedd lle'dd oedd ddau, 

Gwir gwyr ev a gaiV gorau. 28 

Pan vu vatel a'n gelyn 

Yn Manbri oer yn mhen bryn, 

Deuvvr aeth, ni chad yr un, 

Iarll Gwent ; arall o Geintun. 32 

Yr oedd ar wyr Voreiddig 

Gampau oedd dda, heb gamp ddig. 

Ni vynodd yn ei vaenawr, 

Drwy ei waith ev, un dreth vawr ; 36 

Ond gwared ar gyfredin 

A rhanu oil i'r rha^n win. 

Rhyveddod llyvr gwybodol 

Vyw y neb a vai'n ei ol. 40 

Elin Gethin vu'n wylaw 

Ddevni gwlith yn ddavnau gwlaw : 

Ac er wylaw gwroliaeth 

Vry yn ol, ei varw a wnaeth. 44 



19. curas <7M?2/ra=whitharnais. A 32. Deuwr aeth, &c. "Two chiefs 

cuirass ; a polished steel armour : went, not one returned, the earl of 

lluryg. Gwent, and another from Kington." 

25 — 28. Ni chavas &c. " It has 32. Ceintun. Kington, or Kineton, 

not been found where the other was a market town in Herefordshire. 

killed : it is true one man knows, and 33. wyr Voreiddig. Wyr means 

another (God) also; and if it could here not a grandson, literally; but 

be discovered where the two antago- a descendant of Moreiddig Warwyn, 

nists met, it must be by means of him who was a brother's son to Bleddyn 

who gained the day ; for he certainly ab Maenyrch, lord of Brecknock, 
knows." 



Y DOSPARTH I. 19 

Hi a wnaeth yn hyn o wyl 

Yn Herast i hwn arwyl. 

Wedi hwn y dyhunant 

Dri val Sior a Dervel sant. 48 

Mae tri ar vedr ei ddial, 

Mae un Duw'n rhoi i minnau dal ; 

Mastr Watcyn, vab impyn per, 

Meistr Risiart ; a Mastr Rosser. 52 

Amcen tri meib Cwstenin 

A vu wyr traws i vwrw trin ; 

Hwynthwy ddielyn' eu tad 

Ar Loegr, cyn hun ar lygad ; 56 

A rharn, cyn nemawr o hav, 

A ry maes o'r grymusav. 

Ar ddeuddydd newydd yn un 

A roddo mab Mair iddyn' ; 60 

Mewn y lie a'r man y lias, 

Duw a ymwan am Domas. 

Delw Vair a'i dial e vo, 

Duw eilwaith a'i dialo ! 64 



49. Dri val Sior, &c. " Three of 52. Meistr Risiart. " Master Ri- 

like valour with St. George and St. chard." He died young. See his 

Dervel;" namely, the three sons, elegy, Dosp. I. 12. 

Watkin, Richard, and Roger. 53. Amcen =a,mca,n. 






C % 



20 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

VII. 

MARWNAD ARALL AR THOMAS AB RHOSSER. 



The bard was probably within sight of Herast, when he began this 
elegy ; for the opening language of it is that of a person looking from a dis- 
tance, after a long absence, at a favourite spot which he was now hastening 
to revisit. According to his account of Herast there were eight strong 
buildings, or fortresses, on the estate ; and in each of them a refectory, and 
a good stock of wine. The poet presents us with a graphic description of the 
family monument, which, according to his delineation of it, must have been 
exceedingly handsome. And by way of winding up, Watkin, the eldest son 
of the lord of Herast, is complimented as being a warrior, and descended from 
a noble and ancient race. 



Hawddammawr ! heb un awr wast, 

Yv t\r, a'r tai o Herast ; 

Tai rhwym mewn tyrau meinin, 

Tir ac wyth ty i roi gwin ; 4 

Tai clos Tomas ab Rosser, 

Tai arlun twr Alaher. 

Pan las Tomas Latimaur 

Yn Manbri gynt mewn brig aur ; 8 

Ddyw Sul ei arglwyddes ev 

IV dai gwydr a'i dyg adrev. 

A wnaeth Rhods, a'i hewythr hen, 

Yn wyth hat a wnaeth Elen. 12 

Costiaw bedd concwest o bell ; 

Mwy y wV cost no mur castell ; 

Mae 'scriven uwch ben y bedd, 

Mae dan o enwau'n unwedd, 16 

Enw Domas hael, nid mwy saith, 

Enw Elen yno eilwaith. 

VII. Another elegy on Thomas ab hammedan kings of Granada. 
Roger, lord of Herast. 7. Latimaur, Latimer ; (hence, 

1. Heb un awr wast = Heb un awr Uedmerydd); an interpreter: a he- 

o goll amser. raid. Here a term of compliment. 

5. Tai clos. " Compact mansions." 12. Elen. Ellen Gethin, the widow 

_ 6. Twr alaher. Alhambra, an an- of Thomas ab Roger, 
cient castle and palace of the Mo- 



Y DOSPARTH I. 21 

Bobparth i'r bedd y gweddyn* 

Byst ar gaer alabastr gwyn ; 20 

Ac ar hwn gwr o henaur, 

A gwraig wen dan grug o aur ; 

Engylion yngo eilwaith, 

A vu'r un heb darian vraith ? 24 

Gwaith da oedd, dyddgwaith a dau, 

Goreuraw'r gistaid greiriau ; 

Gwely'n vraisg a'i liw'n ei vrig, 

Gloew ^sgwar val Eglwys Gurig ; 28 

Careg nadd val craig wen yw, 

Crud maen cor Dewi Mynyw ; 

Cofr yn wyn nis cyfry neb, 

Caer wen yn cau ar wyneb. 32 

Ystil uwch ben y milwr, 

Ysgrin o gylch esgyrn gwr ; 

Allawr vaen val y lloer vawr, 

A'r eurlliw ar yr allawr; 36 

Llun prenvol dan gwyr golau, 

Llun cor ar vrawd iarll yn cau. 

Over yw bedd dan vur bas 

Wrth y twm yr aeth Tom as. 40 

I Domas mae bedd damwain 

Yn nghrug o aur, yn nghaer gain ; 



23. Engylion, &c. " Angelic fi- Un a arwain yn oriog 

gures on the tomb, bearing escutcb- GrURiG lwyd dan gwr ei glog : 

eons with the arms of the Vaughans Gwas arall a ddwg Seiriol 

emblazoned." A naw o gaws yn ei gol. 

24. darian vraith. "An emblazon- 33. Ystil— Steel: armour. Here a. 
ed shield." representation of a suit of armour on 

25. dyddgwaith a dau. " Three the monument. 

days." 37- Llun prdnvol, &c. " The re- 

28. Curig, a saint and founder of presentation of a wooden (chest) tomb 

several churches in Wales. On the beneath a lighted taper." 

bank of the Wye, on the road which 38. vrawd iarll. Thomas ab Ro- 

leads from Llanidloes to the Devil's ger was brother by the same mother 

Bridge (Pont ar Vynach), there is to William Herbert, earl of Pem- 

an eminence called Eisteddva Gurig, broke. 

that is, " the resting place of Curig," 40. Over yw bedd, &c. " Insignifi- 

so called, probably, in allusion to cant is the grave, over which is built 

some circumstance in his legend. We a humble monument, when compared 

learn from our bard that his images to the tomb (twm) in which Thomas 

were hawked about for sale ; for he is laid." 
says (in Dosp. IV. 1), 

c3 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Cad ail bedd Huail ei hun, 

Caer Gaint i'r carw o Geintun. 

Un nerth a Thomas vertbyr, 

Un wyrth oedd hwn wrth ei wyr. 

Mastr Watcyn yw'r gwreiddyn gras, 

Myntumiwr iemyn Tom as ; 

Eryr doeth ar wyr ei dad, 

Oen Duw eilwaith ein dwy wlad ; 

Brig Moreiddig, a'i wreiddin, 

Blaen wythran Elystan lin ; 

Sylvaen Bleddyn ab Maenerch, 

Sel Einion Sais linon serch. 

Duw gwyn ! cadw Watcyn a'i dent, 

Duw ! 11 un eryrod Llinwent ; 

A aned yn ei ynys 

Ei gystal, walch Hergest lys ? 



44 



48 



52 



56 






43. Cad =caed=cavwyd. Huail, 
one of the sons of Caw, who distin- 
guished himself in the wars of Ar- 
thur. 

44. Caer Gaint. Canterbury. 

45. Thomas Verthyr. Thomas a 
Becket. 

48. Iemyn=Yivmeriz= Yeomen. 

52. Elystan. Elystan Glodrydd, or 
Athelstan, a prince of the territory 
between the Severn and the Wye, 
towards the close of the tenth cen- 
tury. He had the earldom of Here- 
ford in right of his mother. 

53. Bleddyn ab Maenarch. The 
brother in law to Rhys ab Tewdwr, 
prince of South Wales. He was an 
ancestor of Thomas ab Roger, and 
fell in battle whilst fighting against 
Bernard Newmarch and his Norman 
freebooters, in the year 1092. With 
Bleddyn perished the independence 
of Brycheiniog as a British state or 
province. He was buried at Ystrad- 
flur, or strata florida abbey, in Car- 
diganshire. 

56. Eryrod Llinwent. " The eagles 
of Llinwent." By which epithet the 
bard probably meant WatkinVaughan 
and his two younger brothers. See 
Dos. T. 6. 

Llinwent, Leintwardine, a village 



and valley on the confines of the 
counties of Hereford and Salop, about 
seven miles from Ludlow. There is a 
place called Llinwent in the parish of 
Llanbister, Radnorshire, where David 
Vaughan, brother of Ellen Gethin, 
the mother of Watkin Vaughan of 
Herast, was killed in a family affray, 
as appears by the following anecdote, 
copied from Lewis's Topographical 
Dictionary, art. Glasbury. 

" A singular instance of the fero- 
city of one of the female descendants 
of the Vaughan family is preserved 
in an old MS. pedigree : 

" Ellen Gethin (or the terrible) 
" of Hergest, a devilish woman, was 
" cousin-german to John Hir ab 
" Phillip Vaughan, who was killed 
" by the said Ellen at David's 
" church, for that he before had 
" killed her brother, David Vaughan, 
" at Llynwent in Llanbister, Rad- 
" norshire." 

If this anecdote has any foundation 
in truth, our bard begins his elegy 
(Dos. I. 12) on the death of Richard, 
son of Ellen Gethin of Hergest, in 
very appropriate terms, when he says, 

" Pregeth i Elen Gethin, 

Yn vy myw a wna vy min," &c. 



Y DOSPARTH I. %& 

Od a 'r haul i'r dwr heli, 

Od a tes hyd atai hi ; 60 

Od a carw i redeg gorallt, 

Od a. 'r iwrch i rodiawV allt ; 

Od a 'r gweilch bob dri i goed, 

I Lew Herast el hiroed. 64 



c 4 



24 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

VIII. 

AWDL I SYR RHOSSER VYCHAN, O DRE Y TWR. 






In this ode the bard implores sir Roger to muster a posse comitatus in 
Wales, and to march against the English of the north in order to be re- 
venged upon them for having beheaded his brothers, Herbert, earl of Pem- 
broke, and Thomas Vaughan (or, ab Roger) of Herast, together with several 
more of his relatives, at Banbury, in July 1469, after the battle of Danes- 
more. 



Syr Rhosser gwychder bro Gwent a Chymmru, 

Chwi y w Emrys ParVment ; 

Od oes golud dysgwylient 

Yth dal, ail Dyvnwal, a'th dent. 4 

I'th dent y mae 'stent mwya 1 stor, — marchog 

Am orchest pen-cynhor ; 

Sev, iaith Iioeg ; sav i'th ragor ; 

Treia am waith tir a mor. 8 

Pob tir a gerddir, pob ton o havnau, 

Y hovnir waith dy fon ; 

Pena' wyd oil pan y don', 

(Un Duw gwyr 5 ) ond y goron. ] 2 

I 'r goron tirion wyt wr, yn 11a wn mwyn, 

Lie ni mynaistjhvwr ; 

Ar^h vry ydwyt wrth vradwr, 

Tal vrad trwy genad un Gwr. \Q 

Un twr, un milwr, un melan Cymmru, 
Un Cymmro o wythran ; 

VIII. An ode addressed to sir Greeks going against Troy. 
Roger Vaughan of Tretower, knt. 1 1 . don' = dont = deuant. 

5. 'stent =ystent; hen gartrevle: 16. un Gwr, meaning, God. 

an old family mansion. 17. un me l an =m S ilen : one armed 

7- iaith Roeg, an allusion to the in steel. 









Y DOSPARTH I. 25 

Syr Rhosser os arosan', 

Tal di am Vanbri'n y van. . 20 

Cur garliaid, v'enaid ! vuanwyr trwy vrad, 

Myn ini daliad am ein dolur ; 

Na chysg yn eu mysg ; myn y mur a'u tai 

Yn un o'u darnau val y dyrnir. 24 

Gwna lu Deheubarth megys Arthur, 

A mwstria Gymmru, meistr a gymVir ; 

Ac a'th fyn-gleiviau gyrau gaerwyr. 

Del divai rediad ; dial dy vrodyr : 28 

Wrth dy vodd curiodd caerwyr o hiraeth, 

0, del divrodiaeth ! dial dy vradwyr. 

gwnaeth y Saison, galon gwelw-wyr, 

Y boreu "n irad a'u braenarwyr ; 32 

Gwna ditbau voreu, vy eryr ! Tth bais, 

Caerloew chwerwlais, cur eu charlwyr. 

A thrwy dre Warwig, a thro draw weywyr, 

Myn bwniaw y bobl am na baen bybyr ; 36 

Cur yna vloneg y carnvileinwyr, 

Val berau cogau^ val briwo cegyr ; 

A myn waed am vrad i vrodyr o ''stdd, 

Na myn addaw gwaed ; ond menyddiau gwyr. 40 < 

Pan ddel yr amser c'weiria, v"eryr ! 

Eto a gosod at dy gaswyr ; 

Cymer, cwyn vaner i vyny trwy'r byd, 

A myn eu dilyd am ein dolur. 44 

Bydd gall, v' anwyl ! baedda guellwyr, 
Mae bwriad eto, mae brad i waetwyr ; 



21. cur garliaid, " fight and beat 28. Del divai rediad, " may a suc- 

the clowns." The common accepta- cessful attack be made." 
tion now of carl, cerlyn, is a nig- 38. Val berau cogau, " like cooks' 

gard ; a close-fisted fellow ; one who spits :" i. e. pierce the enemy as cooks 

grudges himself and his family the spit the meat, 
common necessaries of life. 43. czw/n=cwna; from cwnu, to 

27. Fon-glaiv, a halberd : fon- lift up. 
vwyall. 



26 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Mae rhai anghyvion val anudonwyr, 
Es mil o oesoedd, oes maleiswyr. 
Na chred vuaned vu anwyr feilsion, 
Myn waelhau Saison a'u malais, — Siswyr ! 

Gwna dan is Havren mal yr henwir 

Drwy Warwig fyrnig a'i hufernwyr ; 

A threv Gaer-y-Gloew veddw, ni veddir 

Un o'i bath ; gal wed ' Yn boeth y gwelir.' 

Hensiest anonest a ennynir yn dan, 

Pob Sais o geulan, ac a welir. 56 

Ve ddaw rhyw geidwad val y gwadir 

Pob gair o Sais'neg, ni vynegir ; 

A phlaid Brutaniaid a enwir yn ben, 

A gwyr y gregen oil a grogir. 60 

Tithau Syr Rhosser, megys eryr, 

Sydd a bwriadau swydd Beredur ; 

Pen wyd lle'r hanwyd lle'r henwir ystad; 

Eirioldwv rediad, rheol dy vrodyr. 64 

Dy vrodyr oedd wyr ir ddewrion rhyvyg 

I ryvel y daethon' ; 

Drwy vrad y llaes y Saeson, 

Tal Syr Rhosser yr her hon. 68 



50. Siswyr. The hissing men ; a Romance, 

term of reproach for the English from 64. Eirioldwv rediad, " govern 

the letter 5 occurring so frequently in (take the lead of) thy party ; for it is 

the English language. the path (course), pointed out to him 

55. Hensiest = Hengist, i. e. the who has sprung up to be the advo- 
followers of Hengist ; all the English. cate." 

56. Pob Sais o geulan, &c. " every 67. Drwy vrad y llaes, &c. " The 
Englishman, whether in his hiding- English treacherously slank away." 
place or otherwise." An allusion to lord Stafford with- 

60. y gregen = y greg-iaith : " the drawing himself and his men by night 

English language." from Banbury, instead of remaining 

63. Peredur, one of king Arthur's to cooperate with the earl of Pem- 

knights : the Peredur ab Evrog of broke at the battle of Danesmore. 






Y DOSPARTH I. 27 



IX. 



PRIODASGERDD RHOBERT WHITNAI, ARGLWYDD 
CHWITNAI O SWYDD HENFORDD. 



The bard compliments the lord of Whitney on his having married a lady 
who belonged to so celebrated a family as that of the Vaughans. His choice 
he compares to the choice of him who would prefer the sun to a star. He 
alludes to his property — his mansion — and to the number of spearmen under 
his command. He pays the bride a compliment on the neatness and richness 
of her dress. Indeed throughout the whole ode he compliments first one, 
then the other, in a way which could not but prove gratifying to both of 
them. 






O Dduw ! pwy 'n nglan Gwy a gai arabedd 

Mastr Robert Whitnai ; 

Eryr ystans 6*1 groesdai 

O Drysel ach heb dras lai. 4 

Mae tras priodas, heb ddim pryder mwy, 

Merch Tomas ab Rosser ; 

Meistres Alis de wiser, 

Mai dewis haul yn mhlaid ser. 8 

Ser ar bob cwrser o'r cwrt, 

A llyn a bwyd er llanw bort ; 

Oer wyv pan welwyv ei wart, 

Od air heb dyrau Rhobert. 12 

Mae y meistr mau mewn tyrauV tad, 

Mwnai 'n ei ogylch mwy no Newgad; 

Meirch a gweywyr on yn mraich y gad, 

Mwy no rhiv y pi wyv mewn arvau plad. 16 



IX. An epithalamium addressed Henry VI. to return a list of all the 

to Robert Whitney, lord of Whitney, principal inhabitants of the county 

in the county of Hereford, on his of Hereford, &c. Robert Whitney's 

marriage with Ales (Alice) daughter name appears in the list of the 

of Thomas ab Roger, (Dosp. I. 6, 7-) knights. See an anecdote of him, in 

lord of Herast. When commissioners Camb. Regist. vol. i. p. 59, &c. 
were appointed in the 12th year of 12. Od air heb=os eir heibiaw. 



28 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Mae Meistres Alis mewn twr caead, 

Mwnai a thrysor main a thrwsiad ; 

Hi a wisg ddywllun ddamasc ddillad, 

Siamled o velved un ddyvaliad. 20 



Ac a arwedd aur uwch grudd a iad, 

Ac a wisg garhnd, ac ysgarlad ; 

Ac a eilw Iesu am oes gleisiad, 

A naw oes y dwg hono ystad. 24 

Mastr Rhobert hael a eilw Elvael wlad, 

Meistr yw yn rhoi ym ystor yn rhad ; 

Mae'n Ustus cyviawn yma'n wastad, 

Mae yn eiste ar swrn o'r mastr Siad. 28 

Ni bo a brovo iddo ddim brad, 

Ni bydd dragywydd achos, nis gad ; 

Tra Hong ag angor ar vor, neu vad ; 

Tra vo lliw awyr, tra vo Ueuad. 32 

Mae'n llys yr arglwydd pawb a'i gwyddiad, 

Hynsmen a Ywmen yn ddiymwad; 

Cwrseriaid euraid yn gweryrad, 

Cyrn, bwa i ryvel, ceirw yn brevad. 36 

Milgwn yn Whitnai, can' bytheiad ; 

Cynyddion ddigon yn ddiwygiad ; 

Ceginau Ystwyll, cogau 'n wastad ; 

Bwtri, seleri, seiri 'n siariad. 40 

Ac o'r llys gwerin yn chwerthiniad, 
Ac o 'r twr can'-wr heb gael cenad ; 

20. Siamled, camlet, or camblet: a land, who, in 1450, excited a rebel- 
fine stuff, composed of a warp and lion ; and at the head of 20,000 men 
woof, originally made of camels' hair of Kent entered London in triumph, 
only. under the assumed name of John 

22. garlond = a garland : eoron- Mortimer. But afterwards a price 

bleth. being set on his head he was killed 

28. Mae 9 n eiste, &c. " He sits by one Iden, a gentleman of Sussex ; 

in judgment upon many a Chade," and many of his followers were capi- 

that is, upon many of the disaffected, tally punished for their rebellion. 

Chade alluded to here is probably the Hume. 
same as Jack Cade, a native of Ire- 






Y DOSPARTH I. 29 

Ac o'r wraig egin, a llin benllad ; 

Ac o'r gwr eppil, a hiJ, a had. 44 

Amen ! hil a had val y mynai hon, 

hwn arglwydd Whitnai; 
Yn eu llys yn lie osai, 

Ac yn eu twr gwyn a^i tai. 48 

Tai rhwydd v^rglwyddes, tai v' arglwydd, val tes, 
Tyrau y santes ydyw'r seintwar; 
Twr mastr Rhobert ynn, twr gwell no'r Twr Gwyn, 
Twr claerwyn Gwynvryn y gwr gwar. 52 

Pa dai yn bump dis sy hwnt val Sandwis ? 

Bond tai i Alis ar ben talar ? 

Y gaer yn nglan Gwy, ev a hon yn vwy 

No thyrauV Sioswy, no thaiV Sisar. 56 

Nid gwaeth, ar draethen, tai Nudd Whitnai wen 

No thai elusen a wnaeth Lasar ; 

Nid ynt waeth ill dau am win i minnau, 

No blodau'r Deau drwy holl daiar. 60 

Rhwyddach eu rhoddion, o law hwn val hon, 
No dwr yr avon i'r gwirion gwar ; 
Teg oedd anrhegu aur i Vair a vu, 

1 weled Iesu o Valdassar. 64 

O 'u mwn aur, a'u medd ; o'u da ill deuwedd ; 

O'u gwledd ni'm gomedd y ddau gymmhar; 

Rhent o'u tir hwyntau a gawn, a gynau, 

Amryval lysiau, bwydau ar bar. 68 

Amryw vwyd raor vydd, mewn bro a mynydd, 
Mwy o wirodydd, amryw adar; 

5 1. Tier Gwy n, u the White Tower," three generous men of Britain: 
in London. hence, a bardic epithet for a generous 

52. Gwynvryn = Whitney, in Here- person. 

fordshire. 64. Baldassar, or Baltassar ; a 

53. Sandwis = Sandwich ; one of feigned name given to one of the 
the cinque ports. three wise men of the east. 

57. Nudd, Nudd Hael, one of the 68. ar bar =ar ddarpar. 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Arthur ni'm gwrthyd, un yw hwn o hyd, 

A hono hevyd yw Gwenhwyvar. 72 

Och i 'r Sais ucho, o'u caer nis caro ; 

Ac oerchwedl iddoV Cymmro nis car ; 

Deiniol, sain Denis, Cedwyn slu cedwis 

Dewi, Non, Elis, Dwynwen, liar. 76 

Iddynt oes Moesen, a hyd oes Noe hen ; 

A dwyoes deubren, derwen a dar; 

Ac iechyd i gychwyn a rydd Mair iddyn , J 

A hir oresgyn, a hwyr ysgar. 80 

Hwyr yr ysgaront, a hwy eu heinioes 

NcTr hynav hyd Vynwy ; 

I roi aur ir ar aerwy, 

I lenwi'r gwin ar Ian Gwy. 84 



75. Deiniol, a saint, who founded Non, the mother of St. David, 
a college at Bangor in 516, which 2?fe=Elias= Elijah. 

was made a bishoprick ; and he was Dwynwen, a saint, the daughter 

ordained the first bishop by Dyvrig. of Bryehan Yrth ; feigned by the 

Sain Denis, Saint Denis. bards to be the goddess of love. 

Cedwyn, a saint and founder of Llanddwyn, in Anglesey, is dedicated 

some churches in Wales, about the to her, which was much resorted to 

beginning of the seventh century, in former times, by votaries bringing 

Llan Gedwyn, in Denbighshire, is offerings to procure the good offices 

dedicated to him. of Dwynwen to soften the hard hearts 

76. Dewi, Saint David, the patron of the objects of their affections, 
saint of Wales. He was made arch- liar, Saint Hilary. Saint Hilary, 
bishop of Caerlion in 522, on the re- in Glamorganshire, and Llan liar, in 
signation of Dyvrig. He founded the Cardiganshire, are dedicated to him. 
see of St. David's about the year 523. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 31 

X. 

CYWYDD I WATCYN VYCHAN, O HERAST. 



This poem is addressed to Watkin Vaughan in his character as a warrior; 
and as one who possessed such influence over the Welsh, that they would at 
any time, were he to wish them, immediately rally round his standard from 
all parts of the country. The bard displays a great degree of shrewdness 
and tact in thus addressing him ; for he had a point to gain ; and that was, 
to induce him to avenge his father's death ; Avhich request it would have 
been premature for him to make, as yet ; but which he did in the poem 
that follows the present one. 



Mair a roes nev yn mhresen 

Ar ystdd yn Herast wen ; 

A'r Mastr Watcyn rymusdad, 

A roes Duw yn wr ystdd ; 4 

Ystdd yw bod yn gadarn, 

A bod yn ddoeth i roi barn ; 

Ystdd y w costiaw dwy iaith, 

A rheoli rhai eilwaith. 8 

Llawer barn ar Whitliarnais, 

Lie daw, 'r sant o Wallter sais : 

Ev yw'r cledd o Ddovr i'r Clas, 

Ac hyd Hymyr ; benaig Tomas ! 12 

A vo prophwyd, dw' dwy-dol 

Tri'gain, as y trig yn ol. 

A dawo a wrandewir, 

O dewi gwers y daw gwir : 16 

G watcyn a dyn, ac a dau, 

Ac a orvydd ag arvau ; 



X. A poem addressed to Watkin his appearance, clad in his cuirass, he 

Vaughan, of Herast, esq. He was will excite great attention." 

the eldest son of Thomas ab Roger 11. Clds = Clas ar Wy: Glasbury 

(Dosp. I. 6); and his wife was Si- in Brecknockshire, 

bylla, daughter of sir James Basker- 12. Hymyr, the parish of Humber 

ville, of Eardisley, knt. in Herefordshire. Also the river 

9. Llawer barn, &c. " Wherever Humber. 

the descendant of Gwalter Sais makes 17. a dau=a, dawa. 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Arav a gwyllt, rhov a gwig, 
Ar y nhyb rhai annhebyg ; 
Peri a wna aV pren on 
Gwylltineb, golli dynion. 
Ni wna, 'n y dyrva y del, 
Aravwch vawr o ryvel : 
Gwatcyn sy vlodeuyn doeth, 
Ac aravddewr digrivddoeth ; 
Ev a estwng ar vaesdir, 
A'i eiriau teg, wyr y tir ; 
Rhai diovn rhag ovn rhyw gad, 
Rhaco eraill er cariad ; 
Abeio y ddwy Bowys 
A wnai vo a phen ei vys. 
Ni wnai na'r Dwdlai, na'r Dug, 
Na^ gwyr vwy nog a orug. 
Gwlad Bowys, mamwys y medd, 
Yw ei genedl, a Gwynedd ; 
Galwer dan ei vaner vo 
Ddeunawtir, nhwy ddon' ato; 
Cedewain a Chaer Einion, 
Ceri, ac Arwystli gron ; 
O Lundain i Vechain vawr, 
O Gyveiliawg i Vaelawr. 
Can' castell dano bellach, 
Can"' trev vawr, can' tyrva iach ; 
Can" 1 caer, cyn darfo 'r concwest, 
Can'-wr riv a'u can'-wayw rest; 
Cant o veirch, cynta' o vil, 
O gan , -meirch i ugeinmil ; 



20 



32 



36 



40 



44 



48 



19. rhov =rhyngov. 

21. Abeio, " to bring (into obe- 
dience) under subjection." 

33. Dwdlai, John Sutton, lord of 
Dudley, who was a staunch Lancas- 
trian until Edward IV. obtained the 
crown when he joined the Yorkists. 
Dugdale's Baronage. 

33. Dug, perhaps Richard, duke 
of Gloucester. 



39 — 42. Cedewain, Caer Einion, 
Ceri, Arwystli, Mechain, Cyveiliog ; 
are all of them either lordships, or 
manors, in Montgomeryshire. 

Maelawr ; there are two Maelawrs ; 
namely, Maelawr Gymmraeg, the 
lordship of Bromfield in Denbigh- 
shire : and Maelawr Saisoneg in 
Flintshire, detached from the body of 
the county. 






Y DOSPARTH I. 36 

Ugeinsir hyd vrodir vryn, 

Ugeinwlad yn ei ganlyn ; 

Ugeinsel o vrig Winsawr, 

Ugain swydd i'm arglwydd mawr. 52 

Gwatcyn ar dervyn ei dir, 

Yn varwn ev a eurir ; 

Barwn vu'r tad credadwy, 

Barwniaid vu eu hendaid hwy ; 56 

Barwn yw, heb air yn wast, 

Iarll hir vo 'r Hew o Herast. 






LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XI. 



AWDL I WATCYN VYCHAN, O HERAST. 



The bard in the last poem complimented Vaughan on his valour and popu- 
larity. In the present ode he congratulates him on the great wealth which 
he possessed. And with respect to his late father he says, that, when among 
his enemies, he was like a hawk, which wherever he makes his appearance 
causes such a movement among the birds that they fly away in all directions. 
Immediately after this he says that the son must be of the like temperament 
with the father. He then, alluding to the preparation that was going on to 
repair the loss sustained at Danesmore, urges him to come forward and take 
signal vengeance upon the English. The ode concludes with wishing him 
a safe return, and a long enjoyment of the festivities at Herast. 



Mastr Watcyn penrhyn gwin per, a damasg; 
Mab Domas ab Rhosser ; 
Mai y tad chwi y w'r pader, 
Mai y saiv canmil o ser. 

Rhiver yr holl ser sy airon rhy vedd ! 
Rhiver gro yr avon ; 
Rhivo gwlith y vro ar vron, 
Yw ei ruddaur a'i roddion. 

Lie y rhoddo 'r gwalch balch vlaen ei big, 
Y fly 'r adar yn gyffroedig ; 
Ein hebog nid oedd annhebyg benrhaith ; 
Hwn nid a ymaith o'i hen dymhig. 

Gwnaethwyd er llynedd, wr boneddig ! 
Gy weiriaw brwydr y gwr briwedig : 



12 



XI. An ode to the same Watkin ten (see line 13) the year after the 
Vaughan, of Herast, esq. This se- battle at Danesmore. 
cond ode appears to have been writ- 



Y DOSPARTH I. 35 

Gwarchadw a chadw, ac ychydig — Vowart ; 

Gwart gydag Ed wart vendigedig. 16 

A diva aliwns diavaelig, 

A chwiliaw onwydd yn ddichlynig ; 

A thrin a gwaedlin ar gig a gwythiau ; 

A pheri angau i'r gwyr Frengig. 20 

Maer ynys, weithion yn mron sytbig, 

Yn wastad tanoch ac yn ystig ; 

Mastr Watcyn myn wrth y menyg, a'r fon ; 

Lluddiaw hocedion val lladd coedwig. 24 

A'th gledd bydd geidwad yn voneddig ; 

Ar erydr ac ar ar odre gwig ; 

Ar gwtmnin werin hyd gaer Warwig gron, 

Ac ar y gwirion o'th gaer geryg. 28 

Y gy vraith vydol sydd ganolig ; 

A'r gy vraith eilwaith fydd gatholig 

Ar glosydd y saint ; ar eglwysig wyr : 

Ar y llavurwyr oil i Verwig. 32 

Myn ddiva'r lladron, vy mhendevig ! 

Ordeinia i eraill bardwn orig ; 

Ennyn y gyvraith unig i Gymmru ; 

O vro D61 Arddun vry i Dalerddig. 36 



15. Vowart = voward : vaward ; 31. Clos = clas ; the cloister of a 

vanguard. " The king's vaward church. 

came to Mount L'herry where the 32. i Verwig. "As far as Berwick," 

earl of St. Paul lodged." Historie of i. e. Berwick-upon-Tweed. There is 

Philip de Commines, 4to. edit. p. 9. a place called y Verwig on the sea- 

" Vawarde, battel, and rerewarde, coast near Cardigan. 

are now the terms for the three 36. Dol Arddun, a gentleman's 

(lines, or) battails." Note by the edi- seat, near Welsh Pool. The earl of 

tor of de Commines' s. Richmond is said to have halted one 

21. sythig, being in a torpid or be- night at this mansion when on his 

numbed state. Y sythbysg, the tor- way to Shrewsbury before the battle 

pedo. of Bosworth. 

29. F gyvraith vydol, &c. " As the Talerddig, a manor in Cyveiliog in 

civil law is but ineffectually binding, Montgomeryshire. Within it once 

so likewise the ecclesiastical law upon stood a chapel of ease to the mother 

those who live in cloisters" &c. church of Llanbryn Mair. 

D 2 



36 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ac o vrig Ystwyth, byd Amwythig, 
O dir, eto, Ial, hyd Ryd Helig; 
O Raidr i Lan Rewig Arwystli ; 
A throsti o Geri ; i Lan Gurig. 



40 



Ordeinia yn dda, ac na vydd ddig, 
Watcyn i Vreiddin, wyr Voreiddig ; 
Ac o Vreiddin vryn i vrig Caer Einion, 
Ac o Gaer Einion i gwr An wig. 

Wyd gledd ar Wynedd hyd Arenig, 
Ac o holl deudir gysylltedig ; 
Ac o ystlys llys Gelliwig i'r nordd ; 
Yngo o Henvordd hyd yn Nghynvig. 



44 



48 



A chadvv Herast yn Uewychedig, 
A Duw 'n dy gadw i'th dent gauedig ; 
A gwisg, dan sidan glossedig, darian ; 
A gwisg lew arian ; a gwisg luryg. 

A gwisg iso aur, a gwisg sirig ; 

A galw einioes yn dy galenig 

A thro yn Herast, a thrig tra vynych ; 

Ac yno delych gan nadolig. 

Nadolig a phase gan"* delyn gy wair, 
Calan gauav, Sulgwyn ; 
Golehau mae'r gwyliau hyn 
Yt gytgerdd eto_, G watcyn ! 



52 



56 



60 



39. Llan Rewig = Llanymrewig : 
near New Town, Montgomeryshire. 

42. Breiddyn, an isolated steep 
rock in Montgomeryshire, overhang- 
ing the Severn a few miles below 
Welsh Pool. 

wyr Moreiddig, " a descendant of 
Moreiddig Warwyn." See Pedigree. 

44. Anwig, Alnwick in Northum- 
berland. 

45. Arenig, a mountain in Mer- 
ionethshire. 



48. Cynvig, a place on the sea 
coast near Margam, Glamorganshire. 
The bard, in this poem as well as in 
several other of his addresses, has in- 
troduced the names of a great many 
places ; and that for no other pur- 
pose than to shew his anxiety that 
his heroes should be watchful ; and, 
if possible, to be here and there and 
every where, in order to discomfit the 
enemy. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 37 

XII. 

MARWNAD RISIART VYCHAN, ARGLWYDD BLEDDVACH. 



The bard exhorts Ellen Gethin to set her thoughts upon God ; and whilst 
lamenting the death of her son, to call to mind the death of Christ ; and 
what painful agony the Virgin Mary, the mother, must have suffered in wit- 
nessing the sight. The lamentation after Richard he describes as being very 
great and general. He was buried in St. Mary's church, Kington, where, 
the bard says, his golden locks are now concealed from view beneath a monu- 
ment of white marble. He then comforts the mother, by telling her what 
kind offices the blessed Virgin had performed in conducting both her husband 
and her son into happiness. 



Peegeth i Elen Gethin 

Yn vy myw a wna vy mill ; 

Meddylied, am Dduw, Elen ; 

A Mair ei vam arav wen. 4 

Mair a weles marwolaeth 

Iesu ei mab dros ei maeth ; 

Elen hevyd a weles 

Marw ei Hew, yn drwm er ei lies. 8 

Ac o'r llys y dyg i*r llan 

Duw o'i vaich, Risiart Vychan. 

Trist ydwyv trwy astudio^ 

Tristau ei vam trostaw vo. 12 

Tros dwywlad tristaa Elen, 

Tristaa holl gwrt Herast hen. 



XII. An elegy upon Richard Reiol' in Cardiff. Several however 

Vaughan, second son of Thomas ab of their numerotis estates, as Dinas, 

Roger, lord of Herast. (See notes to Tretower, &c. centered at last in 

Dosp. I, 6.) The Vaughans of Her- Walter Vaughan, esq. of Talgarth, 

ast — Tretower — Porthamyl — and the last of the family in the male 

Talgarth, were possessed of vast line. See note to Dosp. 1. 16. 

estates in the counties of Monmouth, 5. Mair a weles, &c. probably an 

Brecknock, and Glamorgan. It is allusion to the old Latin hymn, 

said of sir Roger Vaughan, jun. son " Stabat Mater dolorosa.'''' 

of the hero of Agincourt, and bro- 10. o'a vaich, out of his pain, or 

ther of Thomas, who was slain at groaning. 
Banbury, that he built the l Plas 

dS 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Aeth Herast, yswaetheroedd ! 

Yn drist ; dda ginawdre oedd. 16 

Maelienydd ddeuddydd a aeth 

Yn wan, weithian yn waethwaeth ; 

Aeth Cedewain yn eithin, 

Ceri a aeth yn wydd crin. 20 

Nag enwed dyn o gan' tir 

Trev Valdwyn, ond rhyveldir. 

Llinvvent vu batent i'r byd, 

Llinwent a vydd llai ennyd ; 24 

A dryghin y sy 'n Llinwent, 

Wedi nai Trystan o Went. 

Mastr Risiart, rymus drysor, 

Mae^ y cudd yn min y cor; 28 

Mae lien gel ar wallt melyn, 

Mae ar y g wallt varmawr gwyn. 

Nid drwg gan ol wg Elen 

Hwyl ei mab yn ei helm wen ; 32 

A'i weled wrth wely ei dad, 

Yn gorwedd yn un gariad. 

Dau angel iV dau wely, 

rent a aeth i'r un ty. 36 

Duw wellwell, rhwng dwy allawr, 

Dyg ryswr a milwr mawr. 

A hi a aeth at Duw ei hun 

Vry ag hwynt, Vair o Gyntun. 40 

Pan aeth Tomas ab Rhosser 

At Duw, a'r saint, drwy y ser ; 

Doeth oedd, vy mendith iddo, 

Vynu ei vab wrth ei gevn vo. 44 

Mae 'r fridd o wydd Moreiddig 

Wedi bwrw oil hyd y brig ; 

Eto hevyd y tyvant 

O egin coed ugain cant. 48 



15. yswaetheroedd = yswaether- church, Kington, where the father 
wydd ; ysywaeth, Alas ! and son were interred. The church 

40. Vair o Geintun, St. Mary's is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 



Er bwrw y gwyr, val brig on, 

Y daw yn Herast yn hirion ; 

Mastr Watcyn a vyn ryw vyd, 

Mastr Rhosser rhiver hevyd. 52 

A roddo Duw o wreiddyn, 

Duw a Mair hevyd a'i myn ; 

Os rboes Tomas a Rhisiart, 

Un Duw gwyn a'u dyg i'w wart. 56 

Mab a thad cymeradwy, 

Mair, a 'i thad, a'i cymerth hwy ; 

A cheidwad yn ei gadair 

Fr gwr, a'i vab, vo mab Mair. 60 



r> 4 



40 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XIII. 

AWDL I DRI MEIB SYR THOMAS AB RHOSSER. 



This ode abounds with so many complimentary expressions, that the bard 
appears somewhat too lavish in his praise of the three brothers ; but which 
however he metes out to the three alike. He wrote in his character as a 
minstrel ; and it is evident from the ode he expected to be rewarded ; for he 
calls them by every title that is high and honourable; and concludes by 
acknowledging them to have been his benefactors. 



Mastr Rhosser, rhiver yr hyn a erys ; 

Mae arall Mastr Watcyn ; 

Tri yw Mastr Harri hirwyn, 

Tro da a vo i'r tri dyn. 4 

O'r dynion hirion y cair hil, a had, 

Hyd ar bedwar canmil ; 

Oes, Iesu ! i'r dam Sisil ; 

I'r tri oes deg trwy ystil. 8 

Ystil ar garimil val Gi o Warwig, 

Eurer y cateri ; 

Un Duw, Ieuan a Dewi, 

A ro tair oes ar y tri. 12 

Tri meib syr Tomas, trwy ymwan y sydd, 
Vab syr Rhosser Vychan ; 



XIII. An ode addressed to Roger, They were borne sometimes with a 

Watkin, and Henry ; the three sons chevron argent, crest on the wreath, 

of sir Thomas Vaughan ab sir Roger &c. 

Vaughan of Tretower. See Pedi- 3. Tri= y trydydd. 

gree. 7. Dam Sisil. " Dame Cecily ;" 

Arms, sable three boys' heads who was the grandmother of Roger, 

couped at the shoulders ar. crined or, Watkin, and Henry. See Pedigree. 

each having a snake wreathed round 8. Fr tri oes deg, &c. " May the 

his neck az. These arms were borne three live long as warriors." 

by all the Vaughans of Brecknock- 9. Gi o Warwig = Sir Guy of 

shire, except Vaughan of Tyle Glas. Wai-wick. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 41 

Tair neidr at yr un oedran, 

Tri bar ynt hwy o ryw Bran. id 

OV Vran y deuan' o dir Dewi, maent 

O dir Mon o Rodri; 

O egin Llyr Merini, 

O DreV Twr oil y daw 'r tri. 20 

Trimeib aur trwm, bas ; tymher syr Tomas ; 
A'r tri yn eu plas, a'r teirw'n eu plaid ; 
Tri da, tri dwy wawl ; tri nav, tri nevawl ; 

Y tri sy wrawl, waed Rhosseriaid. 24 

Trimeib yn tramwy ; aur ein tir ynt hwy ; 

Tri a wnai ovwy tir henaviaid ; 

Trimeib trwy ymwan ; Rhodri'n rhoi oedran , 

Yn tori allan ynt trwy williaid. 28 

Trimeib o'r trymwan, Duw ! vu'n y fwrn dan ; 

I'w gadu weithian yn mysg doethiaid ; 

Tri llyw 'n troi llawer ; tri llew'n tra llywier ; 

A dyv o Rosser a'r Devrasiaid. 32 

Trindawd trwy undeb ; tri 'n un mis try neb 
Tro ar ei wyneb, a^ tri enaid ; 
Trimeib trwy emyn ; tri edn taer ydyn' ; 

Y tri aderyn vo traed euraid. 36 

Aur a wisgant, nis dyosgant ; 

Dur a wisgant ar dair ysgwydd ; 

Rhosser chwery ; Gwatcyn tery ; 

Harri ery, er rhoi arwydd. 40 



15. Tair neidr, an allusion to the the Rhosseriaid. 

family coat of arms. 31. tri ttetv'n^ tri Hew ynt. 

24. Rhosseriaid. Their grandfa- 32. Devrasiaid. Roger Vaughan 

ther was sir Roger Vaughan of Tre- married Jane daughter of sir Walter 

tower ; and their great grandfather Devereux. See Pedigree. 

was sir Roger Vaughan, who was 39. chwery =chwareua. Tery=a 

knighted at Agincourt. These were darawa. Ery=.& arosa. 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Tri ni thariant a'r tair tariant ; 



Dreigiau ariant ar dri gorwydd ; 

Y tri phaladr o Gadwaladr, 

Yw'r tri gwaladr aur trwy gu-lwydd. 44 

Tri rhyw beiriant, lie dysglaeriant, 

A gy veiriant yn gy varwydd ; 

Trimeib moesawl, "veirch egroesawl ; 

I'r tri oesawl yr a'r teirswydd. 48 

Y tri broder, lie gosoder, 

Yr aur doder ar wyr dedwydd ; 

Tri phren deiliog hyd Gyveiliog, 

Yw'r tri cheiliog rhag tra chelwydd. 52 

Tri ag adav ; ac nis gwadav, 

Er naw adav ni ron' nodwydd ; 

Tri, lie 'mvleidion, troen'* ddireidion ; 

O try eidion y tir adwydd. 56 

Tri Hew syr Tomas, trillu gwlad Vrychan ; 

Tri llumman llydan o vlaen pob llu ; 

Tri marchog caerog yn concweru 'r byd, 

Tri ynt hwy hevyd draw yn tyvu. 60 

Tri chawr tair maenawr yn mynu teirsir ; 

Tri Chai hir am dir yr holl Gwm Du ; 

Tri thwr o Dre'r Twr ar bob tu i Wysg ; 

Tri ni ad camrwysg tri nod Cymmru. 64 

Tri phaladr, tri cadr o vainc Hu Gadarn ; 

Tri o geirw a varn, trwy y Gwr a vu ; 

Tri ydy w 'r rhei 'ni yn rhanu Brycheiniog ; 

Tri hebog oesog a vag Iesu. 68 



54. ^ ni ron* nodwydd, " they will 62. Cwm Du, near Crug Hywel. 

not give way an inch." Literally, 66. Y Gwr a vu, meaning Jesus 

they will not give way the breadth Christ, 
of a needle. 67. rfoe'ra=rhai'ny=rhai hyny. 






Y DOSPARTH I. 43 

Tri chyw'r un eryr yn trychu cynllwyn ; 

Tri derwlwyn addwyn yn cynnyddu ; 

Tri chastell wellwell o allu a moes ; 

Tri o un eisoes yn teyrnasu. 72 

Teyrnas syr Tomas myntumier hono, 

Yn rhanau 'r tri broder ; 

Harri ei glairn rhoi i gler, 

Gan rhoes Watcyn a Rhosser. J 6 



75. Harri a glaim, &c. That is, Henry also ought to follow their ex- 
since Watkin and Roger had been ample, 
in the habit of rewarding the bard, 



44 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XIV. 

AWDL I SYR THOMAS VYCHAN AB SYR RHOSSER 
VYCHAN O DRE Y TWR. 



This ode is hortatory, encouraging sir Thomas to go and quell the insur- 
rections that were rising against king Edward IV. It is an excellent com- 
position of its kind ; and highly spirited throughout. Addressing him as a 
warrior, he commences something in this manner : — " May the impressions 
left by thy glaives be as numerous as the green leaves in a forest ; and may 
the effects of them continue long and lasting. The prints of thy horses* 
hoofs are to be seen already throughout the land." 



Olau dy leiviau val dail ir ar wydd, 
Arweddiad byth yn hir ; 



XIV. An ode addressed to sir 
Thomas Vaughan, son of sir Roger 
Vaughan of Tretower. It was com- 
posed probably in the spring of the 
year 1483, a little before the death 
of king Edward IV., who died on the 
ninth of April that year. William 
Herbert, the second earl of Pem- 
broke, appointed sir Thomas his at- 
torney general, in the year 1478. In 
the patent he is styled (l consanyuineo 
nostra," being in fact his first cousin 
by half blood ; for both of them were 
grandchildren of Gwladus, daughter 
of sir David Gam. We are informed 
that the king, just before he was 
seized with his last illness, sent his 
son Edward, prince of Wales, being 
then in his 13th year, with his go- 
vernor and uncle the earl of Rivers, 
into the principality, with a body of 
troops to appease some disturbances. 
Before their return, however, they 
were informed that the king was no 
more. And the queen requested the 
earl, her brother, to disband his 
troops, and hasten his return to Lon- 
don, and to bring with him the 
young prince, who had been pro- 
claimed king by the title of Ed- 
ward the Fifth. Rivers accompa- 
nied the king to Northampton, to . 
meet Richard duke of Gloucester, 
who set off from York for the same 
place, apparently anxious to pay his 



homage and congratulations to his 
royal nephew as soon as possible. 
But in reality it was with the view 
to separate the young king from his 
retinue, which he did ; and sent him 
accompanied with his domestics to 
London. His uncles, the lord Rivers 
and lord Richard Grey, sir Thomas 
Vaughan, the subject of the present 
ode, who possessed a considerable 
office in the king's household, and 
sir Richard Hawse, and others of the 
king's friends, he caused to be ar- 
rested, and conducted to different 
castles in Yorkshire. Rivers, with 
Grey and Vaughan, was beheaded 
at Pomfret about the end of June, 
1483. 

The following anecdote is from a 
note in Turner's History of England, 
vol. iii. p. 465 : 

The aged sir Thomas Vaughan 
exclaimed on the scaffold, " I appeal 
to the high tribunal of God, against 
the duke of Gloucester, for this 
wrongful murder, and our real inno- 
cence." Ratcliffe, with a sneering in- 
sensibility that does no credit to the 
gentry of the day, remarked, " You 
have made a goodly appeal. Lay 
down your head." The knight re- 
plied, " I die in the right ; take heed 
you die not in the wrong," and sub- 
mitted to the blow. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 45 

Olau dy veirch a welir 

Hyd yr aeth oil dwr a thir. 4 

Dwr yn wir a thir i'th ol, a nadredd ; 

Y neidr o Gaer Lincol ; 

Ni thrig y rhai dig ar d'ol, 

Na'th gonyn tu a'th ganol. 8 

Canol llu breiniol, barwniaid drichant ; 

Dyrchaiv groes vendigaid ; 

Cenyd o radd cawn dy raid, 

Veirch a gwyr varchawg euraid. 12 

Marchawg yn dVysawg i'n, dos ac ennill ; 

Ac yno wneuthyr clos; 

Mewn eigion y mae'n agos 

Dydd i ni a diwedd nos. 16 

Diwedd nos aros eurad dy goler, 

A gweled y lleuad ; 

Dig yth gawn, diwg yth gad ; 

A dynion holl Loegr danad. 20 

Danad ni ddel brad mae'r braint yn uchel, 

Un achoedd wyt aV saint ; 

Dy guras y w dy geraint ; 

Derwen vawr, a dur un vaint. 24 

Dur glas sir Tomas arvau twymon raawr, 

Mwy noV holl varchogion ; 

Duw a roes yt yr oes hon 

Dy gofa mal dy gyfion. 28 

Cyfion coed irion cadeiriau lawer, 
Cymer di niver o vanerau ; 



5. nadredd^ an allusion to sir Tho- conclusion : to a decided victory, 
mas's coat of arms. 17. eurad = euraid. Coler, coler 

6. o Gaer Lincol. From this it ap- arian; coler euraid; badges of knight- 
pears that sir Thomas had a residence hood. 

at Lincoln. 28. mal dy gyfion, " like thy an- 

14. clos= a close: to come to a cestors." 



46 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Cefych a vynych o vanau 'r hollvyd, 

Cyvyd, mawr oeddyd, mwy o raddau. 32 

Pond creulon llinon a'r llenau drosod, 

A'r llewod val 6d o voledau ? 

" Milwr ! trychanwr ! Trowch ynau 'n eu blaen," 

Siarlamaen yw draen yn mhob dreiniau. 36 

Pan ddelon 1 veilchion i vylchau lie y bych, 

Edrych a'u gwelych yn He golau ; 

Ymogel, angel ! rhag angau trwy dwyll, 

Gwell pwyll noc amhwyll ar ryw gamau. 40 

Cur Saison duon, Deau i'th ganlyn, 

Ti y w'r aderyn tor y dorau ; 

Gwnewch chwi am Vanbri yn vrau veresgyrn, 

A novia gedyrn yn vagadau. 44 

A chrog lwyth Ron wen wrth gangenau, 

Ac ennyn tewyn yn eu tyau ; 

Van a bras Domas diammhau y don', 

Brivva cwn moelion brig gymalau. 48 

Gyrwch i gaerydd, garw gwych ! y gorau, 

A myn eu tynu yn nghil pentanau ; 

Eillia'n mhob dyfryn, heb hyn, eu penau, 

A rhagwayw baladr rhwyga eu boliau ; 52 

Gyr i'r mor ragor oV ogau feilsion, 

Gyr at y Ieithon ; gorau wyt tithau ; 

Gwna wledd a'th nadredd noetha odre Lloegr, 

Gyr y llygod ad re ; 56 

Dial dy lid dal dy le, 

A thai oval a'th leiviau. 



35. Trowch ynau, &c. " Present allusion, perhaps, to the battle of 
arms." A. word of command. Banbury which was lost from want 

36. yn mhob dreiniau, in all skir- of pwyll, or discretion. 

mishes. Train, a stroll ; a scatter- 48. brig gymalau, " weak or feeble 

ing, a skirmishing. jointed." Cymal val cymal brigyn. 
40. Gwell pwyll, &c. An indirect 51. heb %ra=heblaw hyn. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 47 



XV. 



AWDL ARALL I SYR THOMAS VYCHAN AB SYR RHOSSER 
VYCHAN O DRE Y TWR. 



The bard having been informed of the death of king Edward IV, seems 
to have some presentiment that Richard, duke of Gloucester, would succeed 
him; for he emphatically styles him, (line 13,) y brenin Risiart, that is, the 
king Richard. After stating that sir Thomas Vaughan had served Edward 
faithfully in eighteen engagements, he takes it for granted that he would now 
be ready and willing to defend the white rose of Richard. The bard after 
this indulges himself in a mystic strain, and writes of the bull of York ; the 
tusky boar ; and the lion becoming a fox. It is not improbable but that sir 
Thomas was on his route with the young Edward, the lords Grey and Rivers, 
towards Northampton, when this poem was written. 



Eurdoechawg varchawg, o Van i Ruswarp, 

Mab Syr Rhosser Vychan ; 

Syr Tomas, o'r tu yman 

I dyrau lore aed a'i ran. 4 

Rhan wrth ei darian a dyv o deirgwlad, 

Arglwydd cantrev Sely v ; 

Rhan ddwys yw'r hyn a ddeisyv, 

Rhandir cred i'r hen darw cry v. 8 

Cryv oedd ar gadoedd, deunaw gwart gadarn ; 

Gyda r brenin Edwart ; 

A chwedi ev o awch dart, 

I gadw rhos gyda Rhisiart. 12 

Y brenin Risiart, barnai'n wresog, 
Yw tarw cry v-vraisg tyrau caer Evrog ; 

XV. Another ode to sir Thomas 1. Ruswarp, a township in the 

Vaughan, son of sir Roger Vaughan, North Riding of Yorkshire, 

of Tretower. This poem dates itself 6. cantrev Selyv, a hundred in 

in 1483. Brecknockshire. 



48 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

A vaidd dyn heddyw, vaedd danneddog ! 

Na llu o Gaerwysg, na Lloegr ei ysgog; 16 

A oes Wyddel gwyllt, na swyddog, na llu ; 

Na bo yn crynu, unben coronog ! 

Ni wn a oes dyn o hyn i Ystog, 

Na neb yn Nyvnaint na bo'n ovnog ; 20 

Y Hew a aned a aeth yn llwynog 

I gadw'r deyrnas gwediV draenog; 

A'r gwr o Dre'r Twr, tiriog benadur; 

Ei vaedd, hen Arthur ! a vydd nerthog. 24 

Syr Tomas curas y gwyr caerog, 

Asur y w ei helm, a ser hoeliog ; 

A mwg o rubi ar helm gribog ; 

Ar ymyl ei wn aur melynog ; 28 

Aur Rhisiart a vydd ar osog rhy vel, 

Aur yn vur uchel ; arian a varchog. 

Aur y w ei dasel val rhy w d' wysog ; 

Aur yw ei vonwes o'r gaer vanog; 32 

Aur yw ei ysgwydd ar war wisgog ; 

Aur yw y gwregys, val rhiw garegog ; 

A'i yrveirch, a'i wyr arvog, yn unwedd ; 

Aur yw ei gledd, a'i ddager, a'i glog. 

Od a i vrwydr a'i adav wridog, 

Eve wnai aros yn vanerog ; 

Od a. mewn dadl, Duw ! mae 'n odidog ; 

Od a i'r gynhen, draig ewinog ! 40 

Od a i'r lladdva, a'i wyr Hog, o'r llys, 

Ev a wna echrys a'i lavn ochrog. 



Ev a i Wynedd o Ddyvynog 
Ovn ei anadl, cawn hav newynog ; 



44 



19. Ystog, Yr Ystoc ; now Church- Wrexham, Denbighshire, was so 

stoke, a parish and church in Mont- called by the Welsh, 
gomeryshire, near Bishop's Castle. 43. Dyvynog, a village and parish 

Also, the parish of Erbistock near in Brecknockshire. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 



Eve yw'r chwynogl o Vrycheiniog; 

Ev a chwyn werin Vechain oriog ; 

Ev yw'r cawr tramawr, a'r trymog vwyeill, 

I vedi ereill a vo dau eiriog. 48 

Ev a a a'i wyr hyd Lan Vwrog, 

A'i vwaau dur hyd Vodwrog; 

A'i lu yn ddwyrestr hyd Landdarog, 

A'i law yn geidwad tros Lan Gadog ; 52 

A'i ^sper, a'i vaner ; a'i viniog vwyall ; 

A'i wiber sy gall, wr asgellog ! 

Y gwr gwinau sy gar i Gynog, 

A goreu ydyw o Garadog ; 56 

Aed ar uchelwaed k'i dri cheiliog ; 

A'i dair neidr rhiv drwy weundir havog ; 

A'i darian lydan, ddyledog drevtad ; 

A'i dai o'r winwlad hyd ar Wenlog. 60 

Mae'r gwr arav, Gymmro goreurog ! 

Mewn gwiail o aur ; mae'n golerog ; 

Mae'n ddewr i drin, mae'n ddar darianog ; 

Mae'n dra gwrawl, mae yn drugarog ; 64 

Mynu at hyny oed Henog, rhagllaw ; 

Mae Teilaw iddaw ; mae Telyddog. 

Ni bydd Syr Tomas dra dygasog, 

Onid i'r lleidr, neu i dra llidiog ; 68 



49. Llan Vwrog, a village and pa- vras ; and Caradog was nephew to 
rish in Anglesea ; and also another Cynog son of Brychan. 

in Denbighshire. 57. Tri Cheiliog. The arms of 

50. Bodwrog, Bod Twrog, a vil- Einion Sais, were argent three cocks, 
lage and parish in Anglesea. crested and wattled or. Descendants, 

51. Llanddarog, and Llangadog, Brecknockshire men. 

in Caermarthenshire. 60. Wenlog. The town of Wen- 

55. Cynog, one of the sons of lock in Shropshire. 
Brychan, a saint who suffered mar- 65. Henog = Enoch. 

tyrdom about the end of the fifth 66. Teilaw, one of the most cele- 

century. He was buried in Breck- brated saints of the British church, 

nockshire. There are several churches who lived in the latter part of the 

dedicated to him. fifth and beginning of the sixth cen- 

56. Caradog. Sir Thomas Vaughan turies. There are several churches 
was a descendant of Caradog Vreich- dedicated to him. 



50 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Y dewr cywir ceidw rhag geuog ; 

A'r anghywir was a yr yn nghrog : 

Dewi i'w groesi ; Mair a'r Grog hevyd ; 

Duw a ro iechyd i'r eurdorchog. 72 



Y DOSPARTH I. 



51 



XVI. 

AWDL I WATCYN VYCHAN O DALGARTH. 



Wat kin Vaughan is here addressed as one that had often befriended the 
bard. He is styled the constable of Caermarthen ; and a captain in the ser- 
vice of Edward IV. He is mentioned as having already signalized himself in 
battle. The bard therefore urges him to signalize himself again by fighting 
the enemies of the king, and the murderers of his father. In this ode the 
bard betrays his relentless hatred of the English nation. 



Mastr Watcyn vreichwyn gwlad Vrychan, rhyswr, 
Mab syr Rhosser Vychan; 
Mae'ch aur ym ucho o ran, 
Mae'ch or aits ym ; a^h arian. 

Cloch ariant, gwarant gwerin, deugain-'stal ; 
Wyd gwnstabl Caervyrddin ; 
Cadben dan Edward vrenin, 
CadwV drev rhag coedwyr y drin. 



I'r drin wyd ewin a dart, a fonway w, 
Gyda phenwn Edwart ; 
Y naill wyd, ennill y wart, 
Ai Hew hapus, ai llewpart. 

Ti yw'r Hew dewis yn trulliaw diod, 
Dy vroder, 11a wer hwyntau, yw'r llewod ; 



12 



XVI. An ode to Watkin Vaughan, 
esq. of Talgarth, in Brecknockshire. 
He was the son of sir Roger Vaughan 
of Tretower, knt. (Dosp. I. 8.), and 
brother of sir Thomas Vaughan, 
(Dosp. I. 14, 15). His mother was 
daughter of Thomas ab Philip Vaughan 
of Talgarth ; and he inherited the 
estate as heir at law. The estate, 
however, has long since devolved to 



the earls of Ashburnham, by the mar- 
riage of John Ashburnham, (who was 
created baron Ashburnham, in 1689), 
with Bridget, daughter and heiress 
of Walter Vaughan, esq. of Porth- 
ammel House, Brecknockshire. Wal- 
ter Vaughan was the last of the fa- 
mily in the male line. 

4. waits = oraets = oreis = oraens = 
oreins—orayns; aval aur: an orange. 

E % 



52 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ti ywY hydd iachav oV tiredd uchod, 

Dy wyr aur rhuddaur ydy w'r hyddod ; \6 

Dy lu'n pregethu, gathod gwlad Gamber ; 

O gwysia holl Loegr megys y llygod. 

Moreiddig Warwyn am roddi gwirod, 

Vy eryr a'i wyr a vu eryrod; 20 

A Hors a Hengist yn gwest deg ystod, 

Plant y ddau ddrewiant aethan' yn ddrywod 

Chwithau ar gylchau yw'r gwalchod gwylltion, 

Saison a'u llinon sy ddylluanod. 24 

Nac arbed Vanbri na'i brain na'i phiod, 

Na Chaerloew wrthi na'i charlau arthod ; 

Na Sisedr emawg, na Sais drwy ammod ; 

Na Sussex nag Essex ar un gosod ; 28 

Na pharchaV Ddena, na ddod ar wirion ; 

Nid erys Saison yn y drws osod. 

Nid hawdd rhivo'r ser sy ddisperod ; 

Na dala gwynt ; na dileu ia ac 6d ; 32 

Na chyrhaeddu'r haul, na chyhwrdd a'r rhod ; 

Na dyspyddu'r raor du hyd ei dywod ; 

Nid haws i ddeucant isod dy ddiva, 

Nid allai dyrva, na' i llu dy orvod. 36 

Mastr Watcyn dervyn, mae'r do arvog 

Mai clawdd y mwn-wyr, mal cledd miniog; 

Mai draen o'i govlaen gyvlog gwlad Vrychan ; 

Mal taran, a than tir eithinog. 40 

Eu bugail ydwyd hyd Gyveiliog, 
Eu bwa wedy hyd Bebidiog ; 



27. Sisedr, the town, of Chichester. alban arthan : the solstitial change. 
29. y Ddena, the Forest of Dean. 37. mae'r do arvog, the then race, 

33. rhod, the blue welkin ; the or generation, of warriors. 

azure canopy of heaven : the ecliptic. 42. Pebidiog, cantrev Pebidiog in 

Troad y rhod, the alban hevin and Pembrokeshire. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 53 

A Iesu a'th roes yn osog Talgarth, 

I wyr Deheubartb yr wyd hebog. 44 

Ac oen wyd i Dduw ac i Enog, 

Ac Emprwr a gwr hael trugarog ; 

A gwr wyd o hil Garadog Vreichvras, 

A gyrhaedd gras ac arwydd y grog. 48 

Erchais vod dy dad yn eurdorchog, 

Arwydd y byddi ditbau eurog ; 

Eurer dy vaner vanog o'r Gogledd, 

Eurer dy vysedd, a'th gledd, a'th glog. 52 

Watcyn gorllewyn dod bawb i grog, 

Watcyn o Brydyn na ad un bradog ; 

Gyr d'ovn ar bawb o'r gwyr diviog draw, 

Gwna vraw o Vanaw iV Ddyvynog. 56 

Dy'mddygiad o stdd sy odidog, 

Yr y wch o Wynedd a Brycheiniog ; 

Ac o radd i radd wareddog vis Mai, 

Yr uchav yr ai val yr iwrch rhywiog. 60 

Doe yn ysgwier yn golerog, 

A heddyw'n arglwydd yn gyhoeddog; 

Yvory, trenydd, myn delw Vwrog wyn ! 

Watcyn, vy erchwyn, ydd ai "n varchog. 64 

A dalia wythoes, bydd daleithiog ; 

A deulu a gar dy wal gaerog, 

A dwyoes arwain vlodeuog wisgoedd, 

A dwy o oesoedd y bych d'wysog. 68 



49. Erchais vod, &c. The bard 54. Prydyn, the north of Eng- 

hei-e alludes to Watkin Vaughan's land. 

father being a knight ; which, in his 56. Manaw, the Isle of Man. 

opinion, augured that the like ho- 58. Yr ywch= yr ydych. 

nour would also be conferred on the 68. fo/c/i=byddych. 



54 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

O du tywysog y deau'r hanwyd, 

O henwir privlwythau ; 

Y mae nerth, val mewn y iau, 

Wyth o Vrychan Tth vreichiau. 72 



72. Wyth Vrychan, namely, eight Cardiff, built by Watkin Vaughan's 
mansions ; of which the palace at grandfather, was one. 



Y DOSPAETH I. 55 

XVII. 

AWDL ARALL I WATCYN VYCHAN O DALGARTH. 



In this ode the bard encourages Watkin Vaughan to stand firm on the 
side of Edward IV. against the machinations that were carried on against 
him by Richard Nevill, earl of Warwick, and his party. He styles his hero 
by the name of neidr, or serpent, in allusion to his coat of arms, which were 
the same with those of his ancestor Moreiddig Warwyn. (See Dosp. I. 13). 
The serpent being also emblematic of wisdom, the baz*d no doubt wished to 
inculcate upon his hero the advantage of discretion, without which valour 
could not be of much avail. 



Y neidr vain oV glain o Golunwy rhed, 

Ac Tr rhyd ar Gonwy ; 

A vernir hyd ar Vyrnwy, 

Nod oV glain gynt neidr glan Gwy. 4 

Glan Gwy yt Watcyn ; glyn gwarth i'th gaswyr, 

Wrth gesail Deheubarth ; 

Cad i'th alon, burthion barth, 

Naw telging ; enaid Talgarth ! 8 

Caer Dalgarth, cur barth caer i borthi swrn ; 

A Thai Sarn i'th ovni; 

A Thre y Twr, a'i thir i ti ; 

A thrwy Von a thre Venni. 12 

Caer Venni leni, caer lanw osai ; 
Caer Iesu i'th gadw ; 



XVII. Another ode to Watkin of Aberconwy, by the Rev. Robert 

Vaughan, esq. of Talgarth in Breck- Williams, M. A. Christ Church, Ox- 

nockshire. ford. 

1. Colunwy, a rivulet flowing by 3. y Vyrnwy, a river in Mont- 
Colunwy, now Chin, a corporate bo- gomeryshire. 

rough in the west of Shropshire, ad- 9. Caer Talgarth, perhaps Dinas, 

joining Radnorshire. now in ruins near Talgarth in Breck- 

2. Conwy, a river in Caernarvon- nockshire. 

shire, on the banks of which is Aber- 10. Tal y Sarn, a parish in Cardi- 

conwy, now Conway. See History ganshire. 

E 4} 



56 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Caer Ian i bob cywir lw, 

Cur luoedd iarll Caerloyw. 16 

Y neidr loyw groyw dod Grist i'th gadw, 
A'th geidwad, eiliw Crist ; 
Neidr vydd ddiawdrydd ddidrist, 
Nodau'r baedd cryv, neidr bedd Crist. 

Y neidr yth alwant un ad en a draig, 
A wna drwg yn Nghwlen ; 
Neidr a ennill draw onen, 
Enaid rhydd yw y neidr hen. 24 

Henaint, rban saint, i'r ynys hon ; 

Wyth gatgordd i'th gadw Gwatcyn ; 

Anwyl vab marchog ennyn tan a dur, 

Oen wyd o B'redur y neidr o Brydyn. 28 

Ceidwad ar Elvael wyd rhag gelyn, 

Carw wyd o Snottul i Gaer Ddulyn ; 

Cymer, cvvyn vaner ! na vyn ond a saiv ; 

Avael yn y glaiv val Owain Glyn. 32 

Cadwed Syr Rhosser, ben aderyn, 
Buallt, Morgan wg, Gwaunll wg gwinllyn ; 
Ceidwad ! a'th ddwy wlad a'th ddilyn i'r nordd ; 
Cadw'r un utgordd y cadarn Watcyn. 36 



16. Iarll Caerloew, " Earl of Glou- in Gascony. 

cester." This title was at this time 30. Snottul, the castle of Snodhill, 

extinct. The bard could not mean Herefordshire. 

Richard, duke of Gloucester ; for he Caer Dulyn, Dublin, 

was on good terms with his brother 32. Owain Glyn, Owen Glyndwr. 

Edward IV. He meant, perhaps, 34. Buallt, now Builth, in Breck- 

Henry lord Stafford, grandson of nockshire. In this cantrev Llywelyn, 

Thomas, of Woodstock, duke of Glou- the last prince of Wales was be- 

cester ; whose treacherous conduct at trayed and murdered in 1282. 

Banbury he had not forgotten. See Gwaunllwg, or Gwentllwg, one of 

note Dosp. I. 6. line 1. the cantrevs of Morgan wg, now in 

18. eiliw Crist, a form, or figure of Monmouthshire. 

Christ : the crucifix. 35. Nordd, the north of England. 

22. Cwlen, Cologne, a small town 



Y UOSPARTH I. 



57 



O bu Arthur, wedd buraidd, mewn bryn, 

Yn rhoi ei gryvwledd yn nhrev Gaerlyn ; 

Amlach yth ddoded, a'th Iemyn; v'anrhaith ! 

Am wreiddiaw gwaith Moreiddig Wyn. 40 

Mab wyd i Rosser, aer per heb hyn ; 

Ac wyr i Rosser lie llanwer llyn ; 

A gorwyr Rhosser, gwar ynn yth gair, 

A gosog y fair ag ysig fyn. 44 

Nac ovna vwa, vab gwrda gwyn, 

Na saeth waed atgordd, na saith, yd Watcyn ; 

Na devod Francod, na dyvyn, na thrais ; 

Na Dug oV Galais, na dager gelyn. 48 

D'elyn o daw ar dalar, 

A dwylaw plad y delir ; 

Dwg aur goler, deg wr gwaladar ; 

Wrda dedwydd, air dy deudir. 52 

Troi'n y myd oedd trin y medr, 

A'th droi'n adwyth, a'th deir-neidr; 

Gynau sidan, gwin a sedr, 

Gwiwran Ed wart, gorau neidr ! 56 



38. Caerlyn =Caerlion; CaerLlion 
ar Wysg : a town in Monmouth- 
shire, standing on the river Usk. 
This was the site of Isca Silurura, 
the principal Roman fortress in the 
country of the Silures. It was here 
that king Arthur had his residence ; 
and there are still the vestiges of an 
amphitheatre on the banks of the 
Usk, which is called by the inhabit- 
ants, King Arthur's Round Table : 
and it is said that this prince insti- 
tuted here the knights of the round 
table. 

39. vy anrhaith. Here a term of 
endearment : my good sir ; or, my 
friend. 

40. Moreiddig Wyn, an abbrevi- 
ation of Moreiddig Warwyn. 

48 . Na Dug o'r Galais, &c. George 
duke of Clarence, a brother of Ed- 
ward IV. who joined the earl of 
Warwick against the king. (See note, 
Dosp. I. 6. line 8.) The earl, in order 



to secure his services, gave him his 
eldest daughter in marriage, which 
was solemnized at Calais^ in 1469, 
where probably he remained some- 
time to deliberate with his father-in- 
law, who was then captain of Calais, 
on the best and safest means to de- 
throne the king. In this they suc- 
ceeded ; and Edward IV. had to 
escape for his life, which he did in 
a Dutch vessel which he found at 
Lynn on the point of sailing. But 
Edward's bravery and determined re- 
solution found means of returning, 
which ended in his being reestablish- 
ed on his throne. Clarence, on Ed- 
ward's relanding, having been recon- 
ciled to his brother, joined him with 
4,000 followers ; but Warwick, who 
could not be induced to abandon the 
house of Lancaster, fell at the battle 
of Barnet. This happened in the 
year 1471. See Turner's History of 
England, vol. iii. pp. 334 — 357- 



58 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XVIII. 

SYR WILIAM HERBART. 






The bard rushing in medias res asks how it was that the dart of William 
was not broken in the assault upon Durham ? and in the very next line he 
exclaims, May the spear of "William break down the strong wall of the 
city and the five towers thereof ! Before he proceeds any farther, he acquaints 
us of Herbert being a descendant of Gwilym ab Jenkin ; and congratulates 
all Wales on having such a hero. He styles him the lover of truth — the 
prosperity of Wales — a member of parliament — the son of the daughter of 
Sir David Gam. He says of him that he was given to charity ; and that he 
was the protector of the weak, and the terror of the enemy. He then 
alludes to his deeds of valour in the north ; and also speaks of his triumph- 
ing over the enemy from Dunster Castle to Aber Dar. He compares him 
to Julius Caesar — to Gwalchmai ab Gwyar ; and says that, when he was 
mounted on his restless charger, his countenance was all fire, and his eyes 
were sparkling. His entire accoutrement also became glowing ; and his spear 
like unto the lightning, or a brilliant flame. Here the bard takes a review 
of his military adherents — proves the right of Edward to the throne — men- 
tions their complete victory over the rebels in the north ; and ends in full 
praise of Herbert. 



Dart arglwydd Herbart babara na thores 
Wrth vertbyru Duram ? 



XVIII. An ode addressed to sir 
William Herbert, lord of Rhaglan, 
in Monmouthshire. He was the first 
Cambro-Briton, since the subjugation 
of Wales by Edward I. that had the 
title of earl. He was a Welshman 
by birth, language, and descent. On 
the first of May, 1461, he obtained 
from king Edward IV. a grant of the 
offices of chief justice and chamber- 
lain of South Wales. On the fourth 
of November, in the same year, he 
was advanced to the dignity of a ba- 
ron ; and on the third of February, 
1462, he obtained a grant of the 
castle, town, and lordship of Pem- 
broke. In 1463, he was made justice 
in the county of Meirioneth, in North 
Wales ; and in 1467 he was consti- 



tuted chief justice of North Wales for 
life. And upon the 27th of May, 
1468, he was advanced to the title 
of earl of Pembroke. Shortly after 
which he was chosen one of the 
knight's companions of the most no- 
ble order of the garter. 

His arms, per pale azure and gules, 
three lions rampant argent. Crest, 
a wivern with wings endorsed vert, 
in his mouth a sinister hand couped 
at the wrist gules. 

It has already been mentioned that 
Herbert was beheaded at Banbury 
after the battle at Danesmore; but 
there are two other facts connected 
with the battle, the mention of which 
should not be omitted : namely, that 
Herbert, after he was taken, added 



Y DOSPARTH I. 



59 



Tori Caer, a'i phump twr cam, 
Draw a wnel derwen Wiliam. 

Syr Wiliam Herbart gwrser alwyn, hardd ; 

Hil Gwilym ab Siancyn ; 

Syr P'redur dros wyr Prydyn, 

Syr Cai Hir mewn sirig gwyn. 



Gwyn ei byd Gwyndud a'i gwyr 
Gael tadawg i gloi Tewdwr ; 
Gael Cymmro a garo'r gwir, 
Gael fynu i GymmriTn gar, 



12 



Pond da vu i Gymmru, Mon, Gwent, bedeirgwlad ; 

Bod arglwydd o Barlyment ? 

Bod ei arlwy yn nwy- Went ? 

Bod ei wraidd drwy'r byd a'i rent ? 



16 



Rhentawl bedyddiawl yw'r byd iddo'n llwyr, 
Yn llaw'r arglwydd Gymmro ; 
Y brisg, yn mhob pant a bro, 
Hyd Ruvain a dyr evo. 



20 



Evo yw'n arglwydd ; a'i vam evo oedd 
Yn verch Syr Davydd Gam ; 



a codicil only to his will. He did 
not, as some assert, make a fresh 
will. And the other circumstance to 
be noticed is, that the battle took 
place on the Monday ; and that Her- 
bert and his fellow-captives were exe- 
cuted on the Wednesday. This ap- 
pears from a poem by Gutto Glyn; 
who says, 

Dyw Llun y bu waed a lladd : — on 
the Monday there was blood and 
slaughter. 

Marchog a las ddyw Merchur: — 
on the Wednesday the earl was exe- 
cuted. 

2. Duram. In November, 1463, 
sir William attended the king on an 
expedition to the north for the re- 
ducing of those castles of which some 



of the Lancastrian party had then 
possessed themselves. In the follow- 
ing month the king was stationed at 
Durham. 

5. Cwrser alwyn, " a grey charger." 
Alwyn, [al-gwyn,] very white. 

6. Gwilym ab Siancyn, a great- 
grandfather to sir William. He lived 
at Wern Ddu in Monmouthshire. 

9. Gwyndud, North Wales. 

14. arglwydd o Barlyment. Sir 
William was first summoned to at- 
tend parliament upon the 29th of 
April, 1462, as lord Herbert de 
Gower. 

21. a'i vam evo oedd, &c. " His 
mother was the daughter of sir Da- 
vid Gam." See Pedigree. 



60 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Yr ail, ei dad syr Wiliam, 

A wnai iachau iawn a cham. 24 

Ni ad arnam gam, neu ryw gas, ar ol ; 

Syr Wiliam ab Tomas ; 

Nac aur, darnaiTr deyrnas ; 

Ni bu lai aur yn ei bias. 28 

Rhai a gyrch i'w bias val at Lasar, 

Rhai a eirch ei nawdd ni bo rhywar, 

Rhai i'r tan a foan' o phar ddydd ymwan ; 

Rhai i goed a redan' rhag ei drydar. 32 

Gwnaeth yn Iorc waedtir o weundir ar, 

Gwnaeth ar ei elyn gnith rhy w alar ; 

Gwyn eu byd i gyd a gar y Cymmro, 

Gwae nhwy lie rhoddo evo ei var. 3d 

Megis plwyv Arthur a Gwenhwyvar 

Y troes o Went, y tir seintwar ; 

Tri hyd traian byd yn bed war cancylch 

A droes o'i gylch yn dyrau 'sgwar. 40 

Yn goetgae y gwnaeth yr holl ddaear 
O wengaer Dwnster hyd Aber Dar ; 



27- daniau'r deyrnas, the coin of ster in Somersetshire. The lordship 

the realm. of Dunster and its castle were once 

29. val at Lasar, " some seek his the property of sir James Luttrel, 

mansion, like persons going to a la- who for siding with the Lancastrians, 

zaretto, to obtain his charity." was attainted ; and his whole estate 

32. rhag ei drydar. The name of was bestowed by Edward IV. upon 

Herbert carried dread with it through Herbert. The earl in his life time 

the ranks of the Lancastrian forces in made a transfer of the lordship and 

Wales. castle of Dunster to his eldest son 

40. yn dyrau 'sgwar. An allusion to William, upon his marriage with 

sir William having improved and en- Mary Woodville, sister to the queen 

larged Rhaglan castle, which he pos- of Edward IV ; and he denominates 

sessed through the marriage of his him in his last will, " my son of 

father sir Wm. ab Thomas with his Dunster." 

first wife, Elizabeth Berkley. Gwla- Aber Dar, a village in Glamorgan- 

dus, the earl's mother, was sir Tho- shire. Ieuan Ddu ab Davydd ab 

mas's second wife. Owain, an eminent poet, was a na- 

42. O wengaer Dwnster, " Dun- tive of Aber Dar. 
ster castle ;" now the town of Dun- 



Y DOSPARTH I. 61 

Adgae y moroedd bu Edgar arnam, 

Adam, Davydd Gam oedd ei gymmhar. 44 

Ev a droes Alban yn dir branar, 

Ev a dry'r Cymmry at wr a'u car ; 

A vu'n wyllt a wnaeth ev yn war a'i ddart, 

Ev a wna Herbart ovn a'i hirbar. 48 

Ev a ddaeth megys Siwlius Sisar 

Heibiaw a gway w Gwalchmai ab Gwyar ; 

A'i ysgwyd a wnaeth oer wasgar ar Drent, 

A'i varch byw o Went, a'i vraich a'i bar. 52 

A'i wyneb yn dan ar varch anwar, 

A'i olwg mawrwych val dig marwar ; 

A'i fon, a'i ddwyvron, a'i ddar, a'i saled, 

A'i wayw yn lluched, neu yn dan llachar. 56 

A'i ystal yn cadw maes a thalar, 

A'i stondart vreithwen wrth dalcen dar ; 

A'i wyr a'i weywyr i ar Gil Bebyll, 

A'i weilch a'i esgyll ar Lech Ysgar. 60 

I'r cwmpas ydd a, yr aeth, Baldasar 

A'i lu o aliwn cyn gwyl liar ; 

I gyrchu y groes o garchar a gwart, 

Ev a a Edwart, ev a i adar. 64 

Ei adar a'i wyr o vewn y drin 

A oresgynodd a'i ros gwynion ; 

A'i lew yn aros wrth bob rhosyn, 

A'i wyr a'i vilwyr a oedd viliwn. 68 



43. Edgar, a Saxon king, who was embers." 

consecrated with great pomp at Bath 55. saled, salet, or salade ; a skull- 
in the year 973. cap. The simplest, or original hel- 

44. Adam, an ancestor of Herbert, met, without a visor over the face. 
DugdaWs Baronage. 59. Cil Behyll, or Cil y Bebyll, a 

50. Gwalchmai ab Gwyar, one of parish near Neath in Glamorgan- 
king Arthur's generals. shire. 

51. Trent, the river Trent. 66. a'i ros gwynion, the white rose 

52. aig marwar, " the glowing of of York. 



62 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

A'i Varwniaid at Edwart vrenin, 

A'i ieirll a'i ddugiaid, eraill ddigon ; 

Deuddeg archesgob yn un dyddyn, 

Deg cant bwa aur, deucant Barwn. 72 



Ac o Wladus Ddu un o egin, 

Yw llewpart Rhisiart trwy'r ddaiar hon ; 

Un o vlaen Brytaen, a'i choed a'i bryn, 

Un o vueilgyrn yr hen Vaelgwn. 76 






O Rosser Mortimer, rhoes dalm o win, 
O wirvaeth Edwart Caer yn Arvon ; 
O Syr Lionel ; o Ly welyn, 

Y daw o rwndwal Iorwerth Drwyndwn. 80 

Edwart a Herbart fordd y mae hin, 
A geidw'r gwyr oil gydaV goron; 
Ac yn lie Edwart, genau llwydwyn, 

Y mae i Herbart roddi pardwn. 84 

Ac anadl Herbart, myn delw Gynin ! 

Yr oedd y'nghevn y nordd anghyviawn ; 

A baner a llew'n tori newyn, 

A gwaith a baner ac wyth benwn. 88 

74. llewpart Rhisiart, " the leopard died in 1240. He was married twice; 
of Richard ;" namely, Richard duke 

of Gloucester. to king Henry III. 

76. yr hen Vaelgwn, Maelgwn, 84. Y mae i Herbard, &c. An al- 

son of Owain Gwynedd. lusion to Herbert's obtaining from 

77- O Rosser Mortimer, u Roger Edward IV. the pardon of David ab 

Mortimer," earl of March, born at Einion, who had bravely defended 

Usk, in 1384. From line 77 — 80, the Harlech castle ; for when Herbert 

bard traces the pedigree of Edward IV. summoned the garrison to surrender, 

proving his right to the throne. he made this memorable reply ; "I 

78. Edwart, Edward, the first have kept a castle in France so long 
prince of Wales bom in Caernarvon that all the old women in Wales 
castle. talked about me ; and I will keep 

79. Syr Lionel, Lionel duke of this castle of Harlech so long that all 
Clarence, the third son of Ed- the old women in France shall talk 
ward III. of me." He was however at last 

Lywelyn, Llywelyn ab Iorwerth compelled to surrender. 
Drwyndwn, who succeeded his uncle 85. Cynin, son of Brychan, a saint 

David ab Owen Gwynedd, as prince who lived in the middle of the fifth 

of Wales ; and held its sovereignty, century. There is a church in Caer- 

with great ability, against both Eng- marthenshire dedicated to him. 
lish and Normans, for 46 years ; and 



Y DOSPARTH I. 63 

A lladdva ar gaith val lladd eithin, 

A Uuyddwyr Gwent yn llywyddion ; 

A Hew ieuanc Gwilym ab Siancyn 

Yn llywiaw gwyr lore ar y naill grwn. 92 

A chynneddv Wiliam mewn ystamin, 

Achub y meusydd i ar wychion ; 

A chynnal gavael Oswy aelwyn, 

A chwe"* naw gwaedtir a chan 1 gitwn. 96 

A chogau allan gyda chegin, 

A chwegwyr a mil yn dorchogion ; 

A chwe mil arvawg yn eu dilyn, 

A chaneuau cler a chan' clariwn. 100 

Edwart goncwerwr, yn lie Edwin, 

Yw Siwlius Sisar dros lu Saison ; 

Herbart sy wrawl, ar varch alwyn, 

Yn mesur Cymmru a'i gommisiwn. 104 

Siarlmaen yw Edwart, myn bedd Martin ! 

Rholant yw Herbart y rhai haelion ; 

Arthur yw Edwart val y perthyn, 

Gwalchmai yw Herbart, a'r dart yn dwn. 108 

Arddwrn yw Herbart i Gaervyrddin, 

Llaw yw a bwyall i Gaerllion ; 

Bwa yw a roed drwy holl Brydyn, 

A sythwayw o Went drwy South Hantwn, 112 



89. caith, (pi. of caeth) captives ; tyr. His festival is kept on 4th Oct. 
prisoners of war. 104. Yn mesur Cymmru, &c. Sir 

93. ystamin. This word, judging William was appointed governor of 

from the context, is a corruption of Wales by Edward IV. 
storming. Mewn ystamin, in an open 105. myn bedd Martin! "By St. 

attack. Martin's grave !" 

95. Oswy, a Saxon king, son and 106. Rholant, a term borrowed 

successor of Oswald. He avenged from the romance of Rolando Fu- 

his father's death, and subdued the rioso. 
Mercians. 112. South Hantwn, the town of 

101. Edwin, saint, king and mar- Southampton. 



64 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Llawes yw am vraich y Gorllewin, 

Llew yw a grifwnt i Gaerllion ; 

Llugorn y w a glaiv Lloegr wen, a'i gly w ; 

Lluryg yw i Went, aH lloer a'i gwn. 116 

Unpost ac unpen, val Custenin, 

Yw ev ar chweugant o varchogion ; 

Un cae o winwydd am naw cannyn, 

Un gorsiet o aur am naw garsiwn. 120 

Un cledd, un bwcled i'r cyfredin, 

Un claim i'r gyvraith o'r heniaith hon ; 

Unclust holl Gymmru'n y Gwindy gwyn, 

Unclo'r Icing Edwart yw'r Herbart hwn. 124 



1 1 7« Custenin, Constantine the the cuirass. 
Great. garsiwn, a garison. 

120. corsiet, a gorget; a piece of 123. Gwindy gwyn, the residence 

armour worn round the neck be- of sir William, in the Strand, Lon- 

tween the selade, or skull-cap, and don. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 



65 



XIX. 

I SYR RHISIART HERBART. 



Nothing seems to please our bard more than to enjoy a good entertain- 
ment ; and it may be said of him as Horace says of Cato : 
" Narratur et prisci Catonis 
Saepe mero caluisse virtus." 
According to his account, sir Richard kept an excellent house. In it there 
was no lack of any thing that a man could wish for. And with respect to 
sir Richard himself, he is described as being the soul of the Welsh nation, that 
as a warrior no one could surpass him. The bard then gives a description of 
sir Richard's coat of arms ; and as one enamoured with the hospitality he 
had received, he must needs introduce us into sir Richard's mansion ; and 
tell us what sort of an establishment he kept. After doing this, he tells us 
of sir Richard's loyalty to king Edward ; whom he compares, as to stature, 
to Saul king of Israel. And he assures us that Edward would govern the 
kingdom well ; and that Ireland, and the north of England, had acknow- 
ledged his authority. He then expresses a wish that not only Scotland, but 
also Italy, and even the Turkish empire, might speedily be subject to him. 
The bard having thus imbibed the spirit of a crusader ends his poem accord- 
ingly. 



Gwr yw syr Risiart, ac a ry ei win ; 
Enaid cenedl Gymmry ! 



XIX. An ode addressed to sir 
Richard Herbert, knt. This poem 
must have been written some time 
between the years 1461 and 1469. 

Sir Richard was the second son of 
sir William ab Thomas of Rhaglan, 
by Gwladus, daughter of sir David 
Gam. He was an Anakim in sta- 
ture, and accordingly he was known 
(as has been already observed in a 
note, Dosp. I. 1.) among the Welsh 
by the name of Syr Risiart Harbart 
Mr, or the tall. He married Mar- 
garet daughter of Thomas Grufydd 
ab Nicholas, who was slain at the 
battle of Pennal. She was sister of 
sir Rice ab Thomas, knight of the 
garter. Sir Richard resided chiefly 
at Coalbrook, near Abergavenny, in 
Monmouthshire. He was a powerful 



assistant to his brother, the earl of 
Pembroke, in subduing the Lancas- 
trian factions in North Wales, and 
in other parts of the kingdom. In 
1468, the earl of Pembroke, then 
lord Herbert de Gower ; sir Richard 
Herbert, sir Roger Vaughan, John 
Milewater, esq., John Herbert, and 
Thomas Morgan, were, by letters 
patent, (dated July 3,) constituted by 
the king to be his justices, to reduce 
North Wales to subjection — to par- 
don such as returned to their alle- 
giance — and to punish the refractory. 
Harlech castle was the stronghold of 
the Lancastrians, at this time, in 
North Wales ; and the last place in 
the kingdom that held out for the 
house of Lancaster. It was difficult 
of access ; for the Yorkists, in order 



66 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ni aned cynt, na chwedy, 
Iarll, na Dug, mor llawn ei dy. 

Nid llai yn ei dai, deuent pan vynon', 
Nog yn nhai Armon, nog yn Nherment ; 
Nid llai no deng-mor ei dent, na'i drysor ; 
Nid llai no Winsor ei 'stor, na'i 'stent. 



Nid gwell un ei lun o Linwent i 'Spaen ; 
Ni bu yn Almaen neb un eVment ; 
Ni chaem ei gyvry w yn mhaement y Pab ; 
Ni bu yr eilmab yn ei BarT merit. 



12 



Ni bu vwy mordsvy yn mawrdent y mor; 
Ni bu vwy Sain Sior ; nac Ivor Gwent ; 
Nid da ar gwrser ond dwy-Went unben ; 
Nid prafach onen cadben gwyr Cent. 



16 



Nid dewrach cannwr, anturient Frytaen ; 
Nid llymach blaen draen hyd avon Drent 



to attack it, in which they succeeded, 
had to pass over the rugged defiles of 
Drws Ardudwy, a task arduous to be 
accomplished ; and which, as a cele- 
brated antiquarian observes, could be 
inferior only to the passage of Anni- 
bal over the Alps. The siege of Har- 
lech castle was conducted under the 
direction of sir Richard Herbert, 
whilst his brother William (after- 
wards earl of Pembroke) was en- 
gaged in subduing the Lancastrians 
among the Snowdonian recesses, and 
in the isle of Anglesea. The earl, it 
is said, committed great ravages on 
this occasion ; and, among other acts 
of cruelty, he caused every mansion 
which belonged to a Lancastrian to 
be burnt to the ground. 

Now, although it would be with- 
out the province of a note to enter 
more largely into the history of the 
two brothers ; yet the following anec- 
dote, preserved in the family of lord 
Herbert of Chirbury, of a conversa- 
tion which took place between them 
just before the battle of Banbury, 



may not be irrelevant here. The 
earl, in reviewing his army, came 
up to his brother, and found him, 
with a grave countenance, leaning 
upon his poleaxe. And he said to 
him, " What makes thee assume 
that position, and that forlorn vi- 
sage ? Art thou fatigued ? or art 
thou afraid ?" Sir Richard replied, 
" I am not afraid, brother ; and that 
you will see anon ; but I cannot help 
thinking of the old woman in Angle- 
sey, who, in counting her woollen 
beads, cursed you for every bead 
she counted, because you refused to 
spare the life of one of her seven 
sons condemned to the gibbet for be- 
ing Lancastrians." 

There is an elegy on sir Richard 
by leuan Deulwyn. 

6. Armon, St. Grarmon, or St. Ger- 
main, one of the most distinguished 
of the British saints, to whom three 
churches in Denbighshire and one 
in Caernarvonshire have been dedi- 
cated. 

yn Nherment, at a tournament. 



Y DOSPABTH I. 67 

Nid av eft neuadd, nac o'i dent sidan ; 

Yni elwyv dan van o'r vonwent. 20 

Monwent a chysegr i bob maner, 

Yw tai syr Risiart lie Tn trwsier ; 

Ev a wyr proviad val ei bader ; 

Proviadau ceinciau Wiliam Concwer, 24 

Yn nhal gwe syndal Alexander 

Ei un Hew a vifn ynnill Ilawer ; 

Mae i syr Risiart, yn dri chwarter, 

Lewod i orvod yn un arver ; 28 

Mae trillew arian yn ei vaner, 

Tri rampawnt ar lawnt wrth reol R ; 

Dyrneidiau saethau, rivedi'r ser, 

Yw ei vaedys ev wedi saver. 32 

Arwyddion sythion ynt, pan saether, 

Y dely evo ystod Oliver ; 

Privlys syr Risiart sy un siarter 

A phrivlys Arthur am win pur per ; 36 

Llys urddawl, nevawl, He hael niver ; 

Lie galawnt gwyr llys, ieirll y gweler ; 

Lie serchawg swyddawg pan orsedder ; 

Lie da moes eisoes porthawr, usier; 40 

20. Yni elwyv =hyd oni elwyv: 18.) being the arms of the Herberts, 
until I go. 30. wrth reol R or E R. An allu- 

21. maner =maena,wr ; a manor: sion to the colour of the field on the 
a noble sort of fee anciently granted shield, which was gules, or red, and 
to barons, by whom it was let out to formerly distinguished by the letter R, 
tenants for certain services to be per- now by perpendicular hatched lines, 
formed, and part reserved for the use 31. Dyrneidiau saethau: an allu- 
of the lord's family, with jurisdiction sion to the bundles of arrows sur- 
over his tenants for their farms. The mounting the crest, which are found 
whole was anciently called a lordship, in some of the Herbert arms. 

or barony, whence the term court 32. ei vaedys, a his badges of ho- 

baron. nour." 

23. Ev a wyr proviad, &c. that is, 34. Oliver, the Oliver of Romance, 

he knows how to try, and marshal, 40. usier = an usher : an officer 

his troops. who waits on a lady, or person of 

29. Mae trillew, &c. Three lions quality, 
rampant, &c. (see note to Dosp. I. 

f2 



68 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Lie llawen pob rhai pob dyw Gwener ; 

Lie cav tros auav waith tri sewer; 

Lie na chwsg a ddel parth ar seler; 

Lie cair gwin Gasgwin yni gysger. 44 

Cysgu'r oedd Gymmru, medd sawl ai gwyl, 

Yn hir heb vlaenor vai rhagorawl ; 

Syr Risiart Herbart yw'r iawn a'r tal ; 

Dinevwr Dewdwr iddo y del. 48 

Rheoli llawer ar iawn gweryl, 

Y mae i Edwart yn amraodawl ; 

Gwr yw i Edwart sy gar Idwal ; 

Herbart ac Edwart, Mair i'w gadael ! 52 

Brenin, a'i werin yn ei eryl, 

Yw'r brenin Edwart, Gymmro breiniawl ; 

Edwart bedwerydd saethydd ; king Saul ; 

A reola ynys ; hil syr Liwnel ! 56 

Ac iddo y mae tir y Gwyddyl, 

A thir holl Brydyn yn llythyrawl ; 

E dry i Edwart wlad yr Idal, 

A'r Alban i wart Edwart a el. 60 

Gwr yw'n chware'r dis am wlad Sisyl, 

Gwr a vyn y groesdeg Ruveiniawl ; 

Gwr a ddaw, vedd Grist ! ar gwir ddial, 

Gwr a ynnill pen Sawden a'i sel. 64 

Insel i Edwart yn nghwnseloedd, 
Draw y w syr Risiart dros yr oesoedd ; 



42. sewer =hulydd bwrdd : an of- Sir Richard's wife was of the Dine- 

ficer who comes in before the meat vawr family. 

to the table of a king, or a nobleman, 56. Syr Lionel : Lionel duke of 

and places it. Clarence, third son of Edward III. 

44. y win Gasgwin = Gasgony wine. On this descent, Richard duke of 

48. Dinevwr Dewdwr, &c. " May Gloucester, and his son Edward IV., 

the generalship come to the lot of the laid their claim to the throne. 

Tewdwr of Dine vawr." Tewdwr, a 64. Sawden^ the sultan. 

chieftain ; here a term of compliment. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 69 

A'i vilwr, yn mlaen rhyveloedd anghred, 

A dry yn egored yr hen gaeroedd. 68 

Dan ei glo Edwart dwyn y gwladoedd 
A wna, hyd Ruvain a'r hen drevoedd ; 
Edwart a geidw cymmydoedd Africa ; 
Europa ; Asia ; a'r ynysoedd. 72 

Ev a i Edwart yr holl vydoedd, 

Llywied syr Risiart y galluoedd ; 

Navarre, Aragon, dan nevoedd Yspaen ; 

E gryn yr Almaen rhag blaen eu bloedd. 76 

Y vol o Iosphat, ev a'i viloedd, 
A dry i Edwart yn ystrydoedd ; 

Y tarw cyrn euraid o'r tiroedd, yn v'oes, 

A ynnill y groes ; ovn Lloegr a oedd. 80 

Dygen' o Gymmru ill dau luoedd, 

Doen' i vron Babilon a'r holl bobloedd ; 

Deuen' i Vethle'm ill deuoedd, i'r gaer ; 

I drwsiaw ei maer dros y moroedd, 84 

Syr Risiart Herbart val Rolant oedd, 

Syr Risiart a'i ddart, mab arglwydd oedd ; 

Syr Risiart o'i wart oedd yn lladd Saison, 

Salmon yn troi 'mron y trimor oedd. 88 



77. Y val Iosphat =the valley of mon he was that could perform such 
Jehoshaphat. wonderful feats, as to be able almost 

88. Salmon yn troi, &c. " A Solo- to stem the tides of the three seas." 



fS 



70 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XX. 

I RISIART HERBART, CEIDWAD CASTELL 
ABERYSTWYTH. 



The bard addresses Herbert as a captain who ranked high, and as one 
who possessed a generous disposition. He attributes to him the good qualities 
of his noble-minded ancestor — Griffith ab Nicholas. After this he alludes to 
the distracted state of the country, and urges the necessity of Herbert's ren- 
dering assistance in allaying the disturbances, as his father sir Richard was 
wont to do. 



Cad ben a adwaen ydwyt, 
Croes naid ar gadbeniaid wyt. 
Y meistr Risiart Herbart hir, 
Hil Edwin ; hil Elidir ; 
Is Ystwyth megys Ustus 
Wyd ; ac un Hew deugain llys. 
Uch Ystwyth, caer a Chastell ; 
A swyddau uwch y sydd welL 
A roist yn Aberystwyth, 
Eto y bydd yt ei bwyth ; 
A roddi i Gymmry, ar gylch, 
Llu'r Deau yn llwyr a'i diylch : 
A vynych yn y vaenawr 
A gai o'r meirch, a'r gair mawi\ 



1 2 



XX. Addressed to Richard Her- 
bert, esq. of Aberystwyth castle, in 
the reign of Henry VII. He was 
the second son of sir Richard Her- 
bert, the subject of poem, Dosp. 1. 19. 
The Richard Herbert here mentioned 
was knighted by Henry VIII. about 
the year 1510, and received a grant 
of Montgomery castle and its de- 
pendencies. 

2 Croes naid, cross of refuge. See 



Naid in Dr. W. O. Pughe's Diet. 
According to the above definition of 
the word, the meaning of the sen- 
tence may be that Herbert was looked 
up to by his subalterns as their safe- 
guard. Dr. Davies in his Diet, says, 
that " croes naid was a part of our 
Saviour's cross which was carried be- 
fore the prince of Wales." 

14. gair mawr, a great name : ap- 
plause. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 71 

Rhol Grufydd ab Nicolas 

I'ch a roed ; a'i awch a'i ras ; 16* 

A'i ddwrn byw i ddyrnu byd, 

Ac a darn o'i gadernyd. 

Rhoi a wnai, yn nhair neuadd, 

I bob gwr ; aur i bob gradd. 20 

Rhoi barn velly bu arnav 

Ar y van gler a vu'n glav. 

A'th dad oedd varchog cadarn 

A'm eurai byth am roi barn ; 24 

A chwithau, rhwng banau'r byd, 

A'm rhiv Tm heuraw hevyd. 

O'th vwnai, val treth Vanaw, 

Mae hob oil yn mhob Haw ; 28 

O'th henaur^ val treth ynys, 

Eto mae punt yn mhob bys. 

O'th wisgoedd, er na thesgais, 

Mae'm ynau pan ; mae'm naw pais. 32 

Meistr Risiart moes dy reswm ; 

Mae bywyd trist ; mae byd trwm ; 

Meibion a gweision oedd gaeth, 

Myned weithion maent waethwaeth. 36 

Syr Risiart Herbart, eich tad, 

A wnai estwng anwastad ; 

Dy gledd aed i gladdu wyth, 

Dan estwng gwlad anystwyth. 40 

Dan dy dad y gwelad gynt, 

(A thrwydded d'ewythr oeddynt) 

Dwy Wynedd wlad, yn ddwy lys, 

Deau buarth ; dwy Bowys. 44 

Danat tithau doent weithian, 

A daiar Went vo dy ran. 

Gmifydd, val gware wfin, 

Nicolas heb encil a'i sin ; 48 



15. Rhol Grufydd ab Nicolas, that 32. Mae'm ynau pan, " I have 

is, of the line of Griffith ab Nicholas, gowns made of fur." 
His father sir Richard Herbert mar- 42. d'ewythr, " thy uncle," namely, 

ried Margaret, daughter of Thomas, William Herbert, earl of Pembroke, 
son of Griffith ab Nicholas. 47. wfin= offing. 

F 4 



72 



LEWIS GLYX COTHI. 



Bran Grufydd oedd gigvran gadr, 

Brain Urien un bryn aradr ; 

Vo wna'r vran a'r vaner vraith, 

I vrig Havren vwrw cyvraith. 52 

Bran vyw wyt ger bron y vainc ; 

Barwn nawosgl brain ieuainc ; 

Growndwal, a grisial holl gred, 

Ryw sythvaen Harri seithved. 56 

Mae't lew dewr iawn ; mae't law drora ; 

Meistr Risiart moes hi drosom. 

Wyth ynys a'th ddewiniawdd, 

Wyr Domas Nic'las ! dy nawdd. 60 

Braich a dart Herbart wyt ti, 

Bar dwy- Went, a bro Dy wi ; 

Un wyneb y wen ynys, 

Einioes hir yt ; nai Syr Rhys ! 64 



49. Bran Grufydd oedd gigvran, the Diiievwr family from Urien 
&c. Cigvran = raven; the crest of Rheged. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 73 

XXI. 

AWDL I WILIAM VYCHAN, CWNSTABL ABERYSTWYTH. 



This ode is in praise of William Vaughan, constable of Aberystwyth 
castle ; and the bard says that, whilst defended by Vaughan, it would prove 
impregnable ; on which account he is desirous that eulogistic strains in praise 
of Vaughan should pour in from all quarters. He speaks of Vaughan as a 
warrior, as a skilful harpist, and an admirer of poetry. After this, he again 
celebrates Vaughan as an able warrior. 



Caer Ystwyth dylwyth a saiv dan beunydd, 

Baner Wiliam Vychan ; 

Cadben yn cau ar draian 

Cymmru yw oil rhag cam ran. 4 

Caneuau holl Deau vlodeuyn a el, 

I Wiliam ab Gwatcyn ; 

Rhwng y Nordd a Brodorddyn, 

Rhwng Cent a Gwent, a'r Twr Gwyn. 8 

Duw gwyn a'i gad ynn i gyd, am ei ddaed, 

I ddeuoed Davydd Gam ; 

Deuoed vyth ei dad, a'i vam, 

A dalo Duw i Wiliam. 12 

Wiliam gan delyn, evo cerdd a vyn, 

Am hyn ei ddilyn a veddyliais ; 

Av yn ngwydd cannyn iddo a wyddyn"* 

Cael brigyn gwin gwyn am a genais. 1(5 



XXI. Anode addressed to William built by Gilbert Strongbow earl of 

Vaughan, constable of Aberystwyth Strygill, in the reign of Henry I. 

castle, and mayor of the town in the See an account of both castles in 

reign of Edward IV. He was the Meyrick's Hist, of Cardiganshire, 

son of Watkin Vaughan, esq. of Bred- 13. gdn=a gan=a chwareua. 

wardine. 16. brigyn gwin gwyn, " first rate 

1. Caer Ystwyth. The castles of white wine." 
Aberystwyth and Cilgerran were 




74 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Y gwr mewn twr gwyn, a'i guras glaswyn, 
A gwayw a erlyn ysddt Gwrlais ; 
Wiliam a elwyn' Peredur Prydyn, 
A'i iemyn a'u fyn, pob un a phais. 

Ysgwier terwyn, o urddawl gruddwyn, 

A vyn roddi llyn ym er vy llais ; 

Aur a wisg ar wyn, ac ariant gorwyn, 

A'r gwyn, a'r melyn, ni char malais. 24 

Ei vraich ev ar vryn 5 ei gorf sCi varch gwyn, 

A dyr gwielyn wrth dre Galais ; 

Ei gledd yn y Glyn, ei law hael, val hyn, 

A dyr fyn oV yn ar Gevn-yr-Ais. 28 

Ev a drig brigyn Moreiddig Warwyn, 

Mai brigyn celyn hyd vor Calais; 

A llwyth o Watcyn, urddas Brodorddyn, 

A llywiawdr sy ynn o Walker Sais. 32 

A Wallter galwer, hyd Gwlen, Wiliam ; 

Yn alarch, yn gadben ; 

Wiliam Constans ab Elen, 

Alexander Rhosser hen. 36 

Rhosser, o phrover, oedd frwyth Gwilym Vychan, 

Val y dwg Gwinllan vlodau canllwyth : 

Daw Wiliam, a'i holl dylwyth, o'r prophwyd, 

OV Barwn hen-llwyd, oV brenhinllwyth ; 40 

I bavvb oV Saison y tal bwyth ei fyn, 
Yr Ellmyn ddyfryn a wna'n ddifrwyth. 



18. Gwrlais, Iarll Cernyw : the green, 

earl of Cornwall. His wife was the 35. Constam ab Elen, or, Custenyn 

fair Eigyr, the mother of the mytho- vab Helen : Constantine the Great, 

logical Arthur, by Uthr Pendragon. 40. Barwn hen-llwyd, the bard al- 

Brut Gr. ab Arthur. ludes here, perhaps, to sir David 

30. Mai brigyn celyn, " like the Gam, who was one of the ancestors 

holly," which is lasting and ever- of William Vaughan. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 75 

O denlli y Nordd y gwna danllwyth gwyn, 

Ac o gan' gelyn y gwna golwyth ; 44 

Tori y trevi trwy wyth, ac archoll, 

Trychu tyrau oil val y twrch trwyth. 

Treio cyviawnder rhwng tri-wyth cannyn, 

Troi yno eu hwsmyn tir yn esmwyth ; 48 

Yn nannedd Gogledd, a'i gwaglwyth drylwyn, 

Ev a ry un frwyn vawr iawn ei frwyth. 

Yn iad Sais gwastad ag ystwyth onen, 

Yn nwyael y pen y gwna le pwyth ; 52 

Un cad ben gaden 1 rhag adwyth a brad, 

Un ceidwad i'r wlad o Wgawn lwyth. 

Un braich dros gan'-meirch, ac wyth o dyrau, 

Un bar a eiste'n Aber Ystwytb. 56 



47. tri-wyth cannyn, an expression knt., who was William Vaughan's 
signifying many, or a multitude. grandfather by the mother's side. 

54. Wgawn, sir Henry Wogan, 






76 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXII. 

I WILYM AB MORGAN AB DAVYDD AB GWILYM. 



The bard styles William ab Morgan, tbe lion of the quick spear — and he 
says of him, that he was free from pride ; that in his conduct he was just 
and upright ; and that his house was ever open for the reception of minstrels. 
The order of minstrels is defined to consist of three professors, viz. a bard, an 
historian, and a domestic teacher. These minstrels, who were lawfully con- 
stituted, found in William ab Morgan a protector, and a defender of their 
rights against the incroachments of those spurious minstrels who in the 
bard's time were beginning to make inroads upon the institution. 



Gwiliam ab Morgan, Hew gwaywlym divalch, 

Ab Davydd ab Gwilym; 

Ab Siancyn ar llevnyn llym, 

A ran cyviawnder einym. 4 

Einym mae privfordd, bob unawr, adrev 

I odrau 'Sgyrd Vawr ; 

Ni bu Meni un blaenawr 

Ei well ev rhwng nev a Uawr. 8 

Pumwell yw Wiliam i roi paement, 

Myn Haw hen Armon ! no holl Normant ; 

Deuwell yw Wiliam, os deallant, 

No Wiliam Goncwer, ac no Holant. 12 



XXII. An ode to William ab Abergavenny. " Here is a remark- 
Morgan, ab David, ab William, ab able rent, or chasm, occasioned by 
Jenkin, ab Adam, ab Reginald Her- some convulsion of nature : the tra- 
bert, son of Peter Fitzherbert, &c. dition is that it was rent at the cruci- 
ancestors of the earls of Pembroke, fixion of our Saviour ; and they add, 
Montgomery, and Powys. He was as in Ireland, such is the sanctity of 
a second cousin to Herbert, earl of the ground, that no venomous reptile 
Pembroke. harbours here, or would live if con- 

6. 'Sgyryd Vawr, the SkyridVawr, veyed hither." Rev. J. Evans's LeU 

or St. Michael's holy Mount, near ters, p. 377. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 77 

Ac o ergyd gwell no Gwrgant Varvdrwch, 
I lywiaw'r heddwch val yr haeddant. 

Reial y gwnaeth Duw He yr aroant, 

Rhoi'n Ngwent holl Gymmru er tynu tant; \Q 

Rhoi deuddydd yn un, os hir dyddiant, 

I roi oui) gwr win ac ariant ; 

Rhoi Wiliam, val rhoi Rolant drwy'r Yspaen, 

Rhoi Herbart o'n blaen val SiarFmaen sant. 20 

Uwch ydd a gwrda o ddau g'weirdant 

Nog o wyr milain chweugain a chant ; 

Uwch twr no chastell o chyd-diriant ; 

Uwch vydd blaenion on no gwaelod nant ; 24 

Uwch yw ach Wiliam no chwechant cadair, 

Uwch y barnai fair vraich bryn no phant. 

Tri frwythlawn gerddor a ragorant, 

Un y w bardd ei hun ac a henwant ; 28 

Ail y w ''storiawr ac a alwant ; 

Trydydd teuluwr cywydd, os cant, 

A'r tri hyn a'u fyn ar fyniant dewin, 

Aur a gwin gan lin Godwin a gant. 32 



15. Reial=very good. a specimen. Dugdale's Baronage. 

16. Rhoi=rhoa\. 22. milain, a villain, or clown. 
17- Rhoi deuddydd yn un, " to 32. Aur a gwin gan lin Godwin a 

make two days to count as one ;" and gant, " gold and wine will they ob- 

that was done by sitting up all the tain from him who is of the line of 

night, so that the day previous and Godwin." There was a commission 

the day following should be joined as issued by Edward IV. in 1462, to 

to appear only one. Ieuan ab Rhydderch ab Ieuan Llwyd 

20. Herbert, the earl of Pembroke, of Gogerddan, Hywel Swrdwal, Ieuan 

Edward IV. gave strict orders to Deulwyn, and Ieuan Brechva, (who 

Wilham Herbert, when he created were bards and heralds, and chief 

him earl of Pembroke, that he and men of skill in pedigrees in all South 

his descendants should use the sur- Wales,) to trace the pedigree of Wil- 

name of Herbert in future, to the liam Herbert, about to be created earl 

exclusion of the Welsh mode in pedi- of Pembroke. They presented to his 

grees of using ab William, ab Thomas, majesty their certificate, in four seve- 

ab Gwilym, &c. as the earl's Welsh ral languages, British, Latin, Eng- 

ancestors had done for several gene- lish, and French, stating that they 

rations. The earl as a matter of found the said William Herbert to 

course obeyed ; but his relatives in have been descended from Peter Fitz- 

Monmouthshire continued the ab sys- herbert, in the reign of king John, 

tern, of which the hero of this ode is and from Herbert son of Godwin, son 



78 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Penceirddiaid a'u car lie 'mgymmharant, 
Haid o dinceriaid byth nis carant ; 
Teuluwr a'u car, darpar cerdd dant ; 
Erestyn nis car ev a'i grasdant ; 
Cler y dom erom, heb warant ainlwg, 
Ei guwch a'i olwg a ochelant, 



36 



A ganwyv i'm oes o ogoniant, 

Ev a i Wiliam yn gerdd voliant ; 

A genais o lais yn ddilysiant 

I Wilym drwyV byd ydd a'n voliant ; 

Ei glod a draethir gan gildant brido, 

Tra draetho genau, tra ddyweto tant. 



40 



44 



Cynt wyv at Wiliam i gael ei ramant, 
No'r hydd rhag cynydd dros war ceunant ; 
Cynt wyv at Wilym er canu tant, 
Nog ebol, neu iwrch, dros vlaen gobant; 
No llucheden wen rhwng nant ac envys, 
No brys draig Emrys, neu gau amrant. 



48 



Ysgriven Siarls am y Lutenant, 

A'i ^stdd^ a'i blwy v, a'i ystod, a'i blant ; 



52 



of Elfrid, who had married a sister of 
the earls Harold and Tosti, in the 
reign of Edward the Confessor. It 
is the abovementioned Godwin that 
the bard here refers to, when he says 
that William was " of the line of 
Godwin." 

45. i gael ei ramant, " to gain his 
approbation." Rhamant Ldii Heb. 
to exalt], derchaviaeth ; arddwyread; 
canmoliaeth : exaltation, praise. 

50. draig Emrys, " the dragon of 
Emrys." 

King Emrys being unwell at Win- 
chester, a person of the name of Eppa 
took an opportunity of administering 
to him a poisonous draught. Uthr, 
Emrys's brother, who was at that 
time with his army in Wales, saw in 
the heavens a very brilliant star of 
great magnitude, from the top of 
which a single ray of light was seen 



to issue forth ; and above the ray 
was seen a ball of fire in the shape 
of a dragon ; and from the mouth of 
the dragon were seen two rays issu- 
ing out, one of which extended itself 
in the direction of France, and the 
other towards Ireland; and these 
rays were seen, each of them, to 
determine in seven smaller ones. 
When Uthr saw this, he became ter- 
ribly afraid ; and inquired of his wise 
men what the vision meant. And 
Merlin replied and said, that it an- 
nounced that the king, his brother, 
was dead. From this circumstance, 
it is said, Uthr was ever afterwards 
called Uthr Pendragon. Brut 
Gr. ab Arthur. 

51. Lutenant= Lieutenant, a sub- 
stitute for the lord of the manor; 
a steward of the courts' leet and 
baron. 



i 



Y DOSPARTH I. 79 

A'i 'stent, a'i diredd, a'i holl veddiant ; 

A'i 'stdr, a'i drysor, ac hyd yr ant ; 

A'i gwrt gwyn purwyn, mewn peiriant gwyn-galch, 

A'i gaerau murgalch ; rhygarw Morgant ! 56 



54. ac hyd yr ant, " and as far mentioned (line 51) as having drawn 
as they extended." It is not exactly up the deed respecting the extent of 
known what Charles it was who is William ab Morgan's property. 






80 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXIII. 

I LEWIS AB GWATCYN, O VRODORDDYN. 



Judging from the internal evidence of this poem it was composed whilst 

the bard was on the eve of leaving Bredwardine, where he had been on a 

visit. He was evidently loath to part. This we learn from the account of 

the inward struggling that took place in his mind between appetite and 

reason ; or rather, to adopt his own expression, between his body and his 

soul. His appetite, or sensuality, would have him remain and indulge 

himself in eating, drinking, &c. ; but his reason, on the contrary, directed 

him to abstain from such indulgence. On this occasion he might well 

say, 

" Video meliora, proboque ; deteriora sequor." 

The bard through the remainder of the poem writes in praise of his host. 



Trigav i gym'ryd rhagawr, 
Heb dewi, mewn y byd mawr ; 
Ymargio, blino'n ddwy blaid, 
Mae yno ''nghorf am enaid. 
Yr enaid ni char ronyn 
A garo y corf gorwag gwyn ; 
Ni vyn y corfyn, be caid, 
Iddo a vyno v'enaid ; 
V'enaid, o caid, a vyn cael 
Vwyd o nev dan ei avael ; 

Y corf a vyn, heb nacau, 

Gael iddo win a gwleddau ; 12 

Yr enaid , yn wirionach, 

A dan y byd, val dyn bach ; 

Y corf a vyn, oV llyn llawn, 

Ragoriaeth ar y gwiriawn ; 16 



XXIII. Addressed to Lewis ab 2. mewn y byd mawr, " in the 

Watkin, of Bredwardine. He was midst of plenty." 
the second son of Watkin Vaughan, 3. Ymargio=to argue a point, 

of Bredwardine, esq. 14. A dan y byd^a, a dan y byd. 



' 



Y DOSPARTH I. 81 

Chwannawg yw'r corf bywiawg bach, 

I veddwi a chy veddach ; 

Govyn bragodlyn, a'i gael, 

Gevn nos, a govyn Wassael; 20 

Govyn y mae am gyvedd, 

Govyn mae drachgevn y medd. 

Mae'r disiau? mae siecraiir Sieb ? 

MaeV cardiau ? maeV cy wirdeb ? 24 

Mae'r dawns, a'i siawns rhwng pob saith ? 

MaeV carols ? mae'r cwrw eilwaith ? 

A oes man o Ismynydd 

Nas cerddo cyn darfoV dydd ? 28 

Da ywV Asbi, drwyV Ysbaen, 

Deuwell pawb yn nghastell Paen. 

Da Lewis wrth deuluwr, 

Ab Gwatcyn Vrodorddyn dwr ; 32 

Rholant Llanbedr, a Rhiwlen ; 

Rhyswr o hil Rhosser hen ; 

Penwn sy i hwn es enyd, 

Palvais Gwallter Sais a'i hyd. 36 

Pendevig dros Warwig sel, 

Peues Grufydd ab Hy wel ; 

Arwydd dewr o wraidd ei daid, 

Arv arian yr Ivoriaid. 40 

Lewis ar Elvael y sydd 

Ewin llew, ac un llywydd ; 



23. disiau - dice. Siecraii= check- is clear from this poem that Lewis 

ers : chess board ; draughts, &c. Also ab Watkin, whom the bard calls the 

the checker-work painted on both " Orlando" of Llan Bedr and Rhiw- 

sides of the door of a common inn or len, had considerable possessions in 

public-house to represent the back- the hundred of Pain's Castle. In the 

gammon table within, and to invite Cambrian Quarterly Magazine,vol. hi. 

the passers by to walk in to play a p. 301, &c. there is a historical ro- 

game, and taste the ale, &c. mance entitled, " The siege of Pain's 

Sieb = Cheapside, in London. Castle." 

27. Ismynydd, here Elvael Ismyn- 33. Rhiwlen, now Bhulen, a pa- 

ydd : the lower Elvael. rish on the banks of the Edwy, Rad- 

29. Asbi, perhaps Aspe, a town of norshire. 

Spain, in Valencia, situated on the 34. Rhosser hen, sir Roger Vaughan, 

Elda. knighted at Agincourt, in 1415. 

30. yn Nghastell Paen, Pain's 39. Arwydd dewr, &c. " A speci- 
Castle, in the parish of Llan Bedr, men of his grandfather's bravery." 
Radnorshire. It is now in ruin. It 



82 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Nid elw i ddyn, del a ddel ; 
Ei brovi o bai ryvel. 
Ev a wisg am gorv ei ais, 
Y teyrnwalch, Whithaniais ; 
Ev a wnaed ar vin Edwy 
Yn ben, yn gadben glan Gwy 
Ac os aliwns a gwns gant, 
I'n tiredd a anturiant ; 
Lewis, ail Eli a Siob, 
A'u try eilwaith vai Trolob, 
Troi a wnav, heb entro'n is, 
I alw awen at Lewis; 
Oni ddaw, vy nghorf llawen ! 
Lewys o'i lys, a'i Hal wen, 
At y corf, pan vo teg hav, 
Vy en aid a an von av. 



44 



4S 



52 



56 



43, JYid elw i ddyn, &c. " Who- 
ever engages Lewis in. conflict will 
gain nothing." 

47. Edwy, a river in Radnorshire. 

52. Trolob, Sir Andrew Trollop; 
a captain under the earl of Warwick, 
when governor of Calais. " He was 
a man," says Biondi, " of great va- 
lour and wisdom. He was firmly at- 
tached to his sovereign Henry VI ; 
for when Warwick and the duke of 



York met, on the 23rd of Septem- 
ber, 1459, at Blore Heath, near 
Drayton, in Shropshire, in order to 
attack the queen's forces ; Trollop, 
with the detachment which lie had 
brought over from Calais, deserted in 
the night and joined the opposite 
party. On hearing this the duke of 
York fled to Ireland, and Warwick 
returned to Calais. 

56. Hal = 3l hall: neuadd. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 

XXIV. 

RHYS AB SION, GLYN NEDD. 



The bard traces out Rice's pedigree, and proves him to be descended from 
Collwyn ab Tagno, one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales, and also from 
Iestyn ab Gwrgant, lord of Glamorgan. He alludes (line 23) with exultation 
to some advantage which Rice, who was a decided Lancastrian, had recently- 
had in a scuffle with certain Yorkists. He regards Rice as an enemy to the 
English, as a nation ; and one that would neither appoint an Englishman to 
fill any public office under government, nor even allow him to be empannelled 
on a jury. 



Aue lin a aeth ar Lyn Nedd, 
Oedd Jin urddawl o Wynedd ; 
Llin y mab o berllan Mon, 
Llwyn gwin Collwyn ac Einioti. 
Rhys ab Sion a'r hysbys iaith, 
Gwr y w acw o Grugcaith ; 
Ac o Iestyn a'i gastell, 
O Wrgan, gwr ugain gwell. 






XXIV. Addressed to Rice ab 
John, esq. of Aber Pergwm, in the 
Vale of Neath, Glamorganshire. Rice 
possessed an extensive property in the 
Vale of Neath ; and he held some 
office of trust under Henry VI. He 
was governor of the tract of land that 
lies between the rivers Neath and 
Avan, as is evident from the poem. 
See lines 17—20. 

5. yr hysbys iaith=y Gymmraeg. 

6. Crugcaith, a town with the 
ruins of an ancient castle, not far 
from Tre Madoc, Caernarvonshire. 
Collwyn ab Tagno, the fourth of the 
fifteen tribes of North Wales, in point 
of time, is represented as the eighth 
in descent from Maelgwn, the mo- 
narch of Gwynedd, or North Wales. 
He had his residence within his lord- 



ship of Ardudwy in a square tower, 
still apparent (according to Mr. Pen- 
nant) within the precincts of Harlech 
castle, which was then called Caer 
Collwyn. He was also lord of Evi~ 
onydd, and within that seigniory he 
had his castle at Crugcaith. To this 
the bard alludes when he says of 
Rice, — Gwr acw o Grugcaith. 

The arms attributed to the tribe of 
Collwyn were sable, a chevron be- 
tween three fleurs de lis argent. 

Rice ab Sion bore the same arms 
in the 15th century, probably quar- 
tered with those of Iestyn ab Gwr- 
gant. 

8. o Wrgan, " of the line of Gwr- 
gan." Gwrgan, or Gwrgant, ab Rhys, 
was a chieftain of Dyved, and mar- 
ried the daughter and heiress of sir 

g2 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ach hen Rys a 'sgrivenwyd 
At gnewyll aur Watcyn Llwyd. 
Rhys ab Sion sy'n ddigoniant 
Yn nwylan Nedd, yn ael nant ; 
O Sion ab Rhys o Wynedd, 
Rhys ab Siancyn o Lyn Nedd. 
Cotarmur, val asur liw, 
Aur y sydd i Rys heddiw. 
Senedd vawr llys Nedd yw vo, 
Lutenant a'i wlad tano. 
Yma pau Rhys yn mhob rhan, 
Yn ddov, o Nedd i Avan ; 
Pob man blaenau Morgan wg, 
A deunaw llys hyd Waun Llwg. 

Y dydd ddoe rhoed fonod dda, 
Sax hen, ar wyr Saxonia ; 

Ac ar y cwn, a'r gwyr caith, 

Ddialedd heddyw eilvvaith ; 

Sidan a wisgasan 1 gynt, 

Heb sidan beisiau ydynt. 

Mae nhwy weithion mewn noethi, 

Heddyw mewn aur ydd ym ni ; 

Y sydd a welwyv o Sais, 
Tinbwdr a reto unbais. 
Amser Saison a dderyw, 
Mudaw o Sais, madws yw, 
I'r don rhag ergydion gwns 

Ho ! wyr Hers ; Ha ! Ha ! 'r hwrswns. 



12 



16 



20 



24 



28 



32 



36 



Philip de Wiz, a Norman baron, who 
had planted himself vi et armis in 
Dyved. He erected Wiston castle, 
in the county of Pembroke. This 
match reconciled the Welsh popula- 
tion to its descendants, who assumed 
the name of Wogan from the said 
Gwrgan. The family is now extinct 
in the male line ; and the earl of 
Cawdor has purchased the Wiston 
castle estate. 

There was also another Gwrgan of 
note. He was fourth in descent from 
Bleddyn ab Maenyrch, the last of the 



Welsh reguli of Brecknockshire. 

10. At gnewyll aur, &c. " The 
pedigree of Rice has been copied out 
down to the golden nucleus of Watkin 
Lloyd." The bard here compliments 
Rice's daughter-in-law. Her name 
was Elizabeth, daughter of Watkin 
Lloyd, of Brecknock. See note (line 2) 
to Dosp. I. 25. 

15. Cotarmur aur=A coat of ar- 
mour made of gold. 

24. Sax, sex, or seax, the Saxon 
word for a sword. Sax hen ; an allu- 
sion to Brad y Cyllill hirion. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 



85 



Bernir Hengist yn ddiran, 
A Rys a wyr rhiwlwi ran ; 
Ni welir Sais diddirwy, 
Na Saison mewn Sessiwn mwy ; 
Na dyn o Sais yn dwyn swydd, 
Na deu-Sais na bon' diswydd. 
Yn as pwynt onis peintiais, 
Ni ad Rhys ail entrio Sais. 
Bwrw sine a wna bar Siencyn, 
Bwrw Sais a brysiaw i hyn. 
Gware tawlbwrdd kg eraill, 
Gware a lladd gwyr y llaill ; 
Tawlbwrdd, gwyr duon Talbod, 
Tros y bwrdd gwnaed Rhys eu bod. 
Bu yn Inglont tenont taer, 
Bid i Inglont byd anghlaer ; 
Bid hil y bobl annilys, 
Ac ieirll o ran, gerllaw Rhys ; 
Bid wir, dros wyneb y Dwyrain, 
Ar law Rhys reoli rhai'n. 



40 



44 



48 



52 



56 



39. Ni welir Sais, &c. " No Eng- 
lishman will be seen without being 
under tribute." 

44. Ni ad Rhys, &c. " Rice will 
not allow the name of an English- 
man to appear again on the jury list ; 
for he who is a descendant of Jenkin 
will hurl the Saxons from him." 

45. Bwrw sine— sink : bwrw i 
lawr ; to upset. 

Siancyn, Jenkin, the name of Rice's 
ancestor. 

51. Inglont = England. 

49. Gwyr duon Talbod, "Talbot 
and his black men." Talbot, it 
seems, had the command of a vessel, 
on board of which there were thirty 



persons, namely, fifteen white, and 
fifteen black men. A mutiny had 
taken place, perhaps, in consequence 
of a lack of provisions. Under this 
circumstance Talbot is supposed to 
have proposed drawing lots as Avho 
should suffer death, and wbo should 
escape. This proposal appearing ra- 
tional, both parties agreed to it. But 
Talbot, anxious to save all the white 
men, had recourse to the fohWing 
scheme. He so contrived to arrange 
them that every ninth man should 
fall a victim. This arrangement was 
done according to the order in the 
following Latin verse, where the vowel 
a stands for 1 ; e, for 2 ; i, for 3, &c. 



4$2T 3 I 12 23I22I 

Populeam virgam mater regina ferebat. 



Because being the fourth in the 
order of the vowels, he began by 
placing first the four whom he wish- 
ed to save ; and next to them five of 
those whom he intended should suf- 
fer ; and so on alternately, according 



to the figures which stand over the 
vowels of the above verse. By this 
means all the white men escaped ; 
but all the others, the lot falling 
upon every ninth man, perished. 



g3 



86 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXV. 

MOLIANT SION AB RHYS A SIANCYN. 



The bard opens his ode by wishing happiness to John ab Rice; and 
alludes, in complimentary terms, to his having married Elizabeth, daughter 
of Watkin Lloyd. The festive board at Aber Pergwm, with which he was 
delighted, next occupies his attention ; for, it appears, he met with many 
guests there who as well as their generous hosts took pleasure in talking their 
native language, the Welsh. However, between the luxuries of the table 
and the conversation of the company, the poet's A wen was excited ; and we 
find him launching forth, with his wonted felicity, in praise of his host, the 
lady of the house, and the whole establishment. 



Bonedd dwylan Nedd del yn wyn — y sant, 

Sion ab Rhys a Siancyn ; 

Bonid oedd bena' deuddyu 

Bual glew, a nobl y Glyn ? 4 

Glyn Nedd y bonedd lie derbyniwyd eigr 

O egin Watcyn Llwyd ; 

Gwin Elsbedd a gyveddwyd 

Gwyn, i bawb wrth gywain bwyd. 8 

Bwyd llys Arthur lwyd ar lydwm ; y Hall, 

Bwyd llys Aber Pergwm ; 

Bob ddeg, ni rivid ddegwm, 

Bort y rhai'n; a'r bara trwm. 12 

Plas trwm val y plwm, lie mae plaid Oil wyn, 
Wellwell ei henaviaid ; 



XXV. An ode in praise of John Arms, sable, a chevron between 

ab Rice, ab John, ab Rice (of North three fleur-de-lis argent. 

Wales), and of Rice ab Siancyn, of 13. plaid Ottwyn, the clan, or fa- 

the Vale of Neath. John ab Rice mily, of Collwyn ab Tagno, the 

lived at Aber Pergwm, and his wife founder of the tribe ; from whom 

was Elizabeth, daughter of Watkin John ab Rice was descended. 
Lloyd, of Brecknock. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 87 

Yn y plas cwmpas y caid 

Brud heniaith y Brytaniaid. 16 

Brytaniaid a va yn mhob tuedd, 

Beli, Bran, dwyran i bob dewredd ; 

Y brenin Arthur, bu rinwedd iddynt ; 

Bu yntau arnynt ben teyrnedd. 20 

Bid Sion ar ei ol, ein gorvoledd, 

Benav a hynav o'r brenhinedd ; 

Bid trwyV byd hevyd etivedd talaith ; 

Bid benrhaith vy iaith o gryd i vedd. 24 

Och ym ! onid Sion sy ben bonedd, 

O Wyr i Eglwys Vair, i Ogledd ? 

Oervel ym a hir orwedd yn aviach, 

Od oes ei hofach o waed Siaphedd. 28 

Einion ab Collwyn yn nwy Wynedd, 

Evo o Ollwyn a vu allwedd ; 

Rhys ab Siancyn hyn brenhinedd bob man ; 

Sion ab Rhys weithian yn nwylan Nedd. 32 

Nid Uai son am Sion nog oedd am Sedd, 

Na'i air, a'i weithred, no'r ewythredd; 

No their-ran y byd ; no thiredd Israel ; 

No'r triwyr ryhael ; noV tair Heledd. 36 

Nid avry w'r gleisiaid garu'r dyvredd, 
Ni ovyn glerddyn ond lie bo gwledd ; 



15. Yn y plas cwmpas y caid, &c. in foreign climes, and acquiring a 

" Throughout the mansion the Ian- knowledge of almost all the conti- 

guage spoken was that of the ancient nental languages, is more than ever 

Britons." It affords us pleasure to attached to Cymmru * Cymmro • 

notice here, that the same language Cymmraeg. 

which was spoken at Aber Pergwm, 26. O Wyr, " from Gower." Gioyr, 

in the middle of the 15th century, is or Gower, is a promontory of Gla- 

still not only spoken there, but culti- morganshire. 
vated. The Welsh language is, per- 33. Sedd =Seth. 

haps, more esteemed there, even now, 36. triwyr ryhael, the three gene- 

than in most gentlemen's mansions, rous ones of the isle of Britain, viz. 

taking in all Gwynedd and Deheu- Mordav, Nudd, and Rhydderch. 
barth. And we heartily wish the pre- tair Heledd, i. e. North Wich, 

sent occupier of Aber Pergwm a long Middle Wich, and Nantwich. 
life to enjoy the delights of his native 37. Nid avryw, " it is natural." 

spot; who after many years' absence 

G 4 



88 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Nid oedav na Sion, na'i dudwedd ; na'i dai ; 
Nes myned Sawdai, neu Venai'n vedd. 

Naw can' clo dan Sion, a naw can 1 cledd ; 
Naw cantai a gai yn amguedd ; 
Nawradd nev yn drev, diryvedd yw hyn ; 
Naw llyn yn govyn am ei gyvedd. 

Naw pobydd beunydd yn mhob annedd, 

Naw cog yn nghegin, werin un wedd ; 

Naw arian gwpan lie gwedd gwin cadarn, 

Nawwyr a basarn ar eu bysedd. 48 

Nid gwell dau gymrahar un drugaredd, 

No'r ddau or Deau hyd ar Duedd ; 

Ni vyn wyr Siancyn, dros hedd, ond rhoi llyn ; 

Ni vyn haul Watcyn ond rhoi y wledd. 52 

Nid gwell gwr nog ev yn nhangnevedd, 

Nid gwell gwraig no hon am eigion medd ; 

Nid gwell agos, pell ; pa wedd y bai well ? 

Nid gwell gwlad Gad ell gled a 1 ! gydwedd. 56 

Ni wn eu cyvryw yn un annedd, 

Na naw o agos yn un agwedd ; 

Na chan'-wlad cystadl ; na chan '-wledd Winsor; 

Na chan'-wr rhagor; na chan'wragedd. 60 

Nawdd Mair, nawdd ei mab, ar EPsabedd ; 
Nawdd liar, nawdd Mor, a nawdd Elwedd ; 
Nawdd Caron ar hon, rhinwedd cerddorion ; 
Nawdd yr engylion ar Non Glyn Nedd. 64 



40. Sawdai = Sawdde, a river which of Wales. This happened in the 

flows into the Towy, near Llan- year 876. Hence South Wales is 

dd'yvri. sometimes called Bro Gadell. 

48. basarn, a turned mapple bowl 62. Mor, the son of Morydd ab 

of immense size ; a bowl : diod-lestr. Ceneu, ab Coel, a saint who lived 

50. hyd ar Duedd, as far as the in the fifth century. Llanvor, in 

river Tweed. Lewis Morris. Penllyn, near Bala, is dedicated to 

56. gwlad Gadell, " the territory of him. 

Cadell." Cadell, the eldest son of Elwedd, a saint, to whom Llan 

Rhodri the Great, who had South Elwedd, on the borders of the Wye, 

Wales for his share on the division near Built, is dedicated. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 89 

XXVI. 

I SIANCYN WINSTWN, O ERGIN LLANARAN. 



The bard expresses himself as being very desirous to go and pay his re- 
spects to Winston, for he was generous and kindhearted; and although, pater- 
nally at least, an Englishman by birth, yet he had acquired a thorough know- 
ledge of the Welsh language, of which he was a great admirer. In a word, 
Winston had become a Welshman in principle and practice. From this we 
learn that our bard was, in reality, an enemy to those only who despised the 
language ; for he was convinced that he who was a lover of the Welsh lan- 
guage could not be otherwise than attached to the Welsh nation. Through- 
out the ode he is enraptured in praise of Winston. 



Ydd wy'n arovyn IleY eiddunwn gael 

Gweled Siancyn Winstwn ; 

I'm einioes y dymunwn 

Weled hwn. 4 

Hwn ydywY haelav oV Barwniaid^ 

AV gorau o'r holl ysgwieriaid ; 

Ac eryr cerddwyr, a phenceirddiaid swydd ; . 

A chlo ac allwydd uwchlaw gwylJiaid. 8 

Ergin sy'n gwneuthur penaduriaid, 

Ergin, ei gwerin sy gywiriaid ; 

Ergin, gyfredin ei gyfrydiaid trin, 

Ergin a ry gwin i rai gweiniaid. 12 

I gwmpas dwr glas y daw'r gleisiaid, 

Awn at Salmon Sion a'i ysweiniaid ; 

Awn at Siancyn Wyn, enaid ei ardal ; 

Od a i'r hoewal adar hwyaid. 1(5 



XXVI. An ode addressed to Jen- Gwent. The three divisions of Gwent 

kin Winston, of Llangarron, in the were Ergin, Euas, and Ystrad Yw. 
district of Ergin, or Urchenfield, 16. hoewal (according to Dr. W.O. 

Herefordshire. Pughe's Diet.) signifies agitation of 

9. Ergin, or Urchenfield, was for- water ; whirling of a stream ; an 

merly a portion of the province of eddy. Hoewal, however, is not, 



90 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Av i Lan Aran at vlaenoriaid, 

Ac yn Llan Aran cav anneriaid ; 

Aed i Lan Aran a wnaid heb arian ; 

Doed o Lan Aran a'i law'n euraid. 20 

At Siancyn erchwyn ydd a eirchiaid, 

I erchi i gael pob arch a gaid; 

Siancyn o'i dyddyn Awdl Doddaid a vyn 

Wrth ovyn cannyn o ddatgeiniaid. 24 

Mae'n benav pob rhai o'i hynaviaid, 

Mae yntau'n unben, myn vy enaid ! 

Mae wythran yn lan lonaid y dengwlad ; 

Mam, henvam, hendad, a thad, a thaid. 28 

Siancyn, Cwstenyn y Winstyniaid, 

Siancyn, ail emyn, o'r Gwilymiaid ; 

Siancyn o dre Wyn sy dri naid o'r blaen, 

Siancyn vlaen a draen iV estroniaid. 32 

Da y w o agos dwr bendigaid ; 

Da ywV oferen drwyV offeiriaid, 

Da y w'r evengyl, ac y dy waid wir ; 

Da, dir, o phrovir yvv bedd San Fraid. 36 

Da air sy i Siancyn gan awduriaid ; 

Da wr y w Siancyn, medd Doctoriaid ; 

Da ddyn yw Siancyn, os haid a vag vel ; 

Os uchel a wnel Cardinaliaid. 40 

Siancyn gyf Watcyn a rhoi ni phaid ; 
Siancyn, bob bivvy ddyn, yw'n nerth a'n plaid ; 
Siancyn yw'n rhwymyn, a'n rhaid, a'n penrhaith ; 
Os penrhaith ein iaith ydoedd groes naid. 44 



strictly speaking, an eddy, but rather through Llyn Tegid, may be consi- 
the middle, or main river, during dered a hoewal. 
floods. The bard in another ode Drwyodd er dyddiau 'r Drywon, 
says, Ac no hoewal lliv trwy ganol Y rhwyv y Dyvrdwyv ei don. 
llyn ; from which it is clear he meant 23. Awdl Doddaid, a metre so 
the current, the main current; called called. The metre is Cynghawg, end- 
also brwynen yr avon. The Dwyv, ing in two lines, 
or Dwy, which tradition says flows 44. Os penrhaith, &c. Probably an 






Y DOSPARTH I. 91 

Os gwyn yr arian ; os gwen canaid ; 

Siancyn a wisg wyn ar Wasgwyniaid ; 

Os gwen eiry bellen, neu beilliaid drosto ; 

Odid a alio neidio i*w naid. 48 

Evo ywV dethawl vry o'r doethiaid, 

A'r doetha' eilwaith oV detholiaid ; 

Ar ol y dethol ydd aid, nos a dydd, 

Obry at deunydd llew'r Brutaniaid. 52 

Canwn i'r Brytwn, tra brytwyv vi gerdd ; 

A phoed gwir a ganwyv ; 

Cerddwr i Siancyn Wyn wyv, 

Caniadwr Siancyn yd wyv. 56 



allusion to the prince of Wales, who Powys land the term is applied to 

had a croes naid carried before him, the moon's disk. 

as mentioned in note 2, Dosp. I. 20. 46. ar Wasgwyniaid^ " upon Gas- 

45. os given canaid, " if the canaid coigne horses." 

be fair." Canaid, an epithet for the 47. eiry bellen, a snowball. 
moon, in Glamorganshire ; but in 



92 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXVII. 

I SION AB HYWEL, O EUAS. 



The bard styles his hero by the epithet of a young stag, as being descrip- 
tive of his activity. In his character as the defender of his country's rights 
he calls him " the sword of the borders of Euas," in whose hand, when 
flourished, the glaive resembled the appearance of a wheel in motion. The 
bard next assumes to himself the title of a missionary, and says that after the 
example of the apostles, who went about preaching, so would he go about 
proclaiming every where the deeds of his hero. And alluding to his having 
been in the habit, from his childhood, of visiting the hero's father, the bard 
takes an opportunity of descanting upon his virtues and liberality; and 
mentions that the first piece of gold he ever had, as the reward of his muse, 
was from him. 



Y carw ieuanc ar Euas, 

Ac yn y grudd egin gras ; 

Sion ab Hywel, un helynt, 

Ab Thomas a Gildas gynt ; 4 

Dur noeth drwy'r marsdir, a'i nerth, 

Ac o Wilcog mae'n goelcerth. 

Mae orig ddawn Meirig Ddu 

Yn ei ael yn annelu ; 8 

Cleddeu blaeneudir Euas 

Ydyw a'i laiv val rhod las. 

Trosolwayw cantre Selyv, 

Yn y dwrn, i Sion a dyv. 12 

Chwyl yr ebystyl drwyr'r byd 

A'm helpodd yn vy mhulpyd ; 

I bob tu i bregethu gynt 

O wyrtb IesuV aethasynt. 10 

Aeth rhai i NazVeth oV rhai'n ; 

Rhai hevyd i dir Rhuvain ; 

Minnau'n ol dyddiau'r deuddeg 

Yw Andras gwlad Euas deg. 20 

Doe, ddyw Sul, gweithredoedd Sion 

A draethais hyd ar Ieithon ; 

Gwnav i lys Bowys Tm byw 

Gredu maiV gorau ydyw. 24 

XXVII. Addressed to John ab Howell, ab Thomas, of Euas. 






Y DOSPARTH I. 93 

OV haelder, mal llyvr Sieron, 

Rholiau y sydd ar helw Sion. 

Ei dad, mor wrda ydoedd, 

Llew a sant holl Euas oedd ; 28 

Ar ei ol Sion ywV ail sant, 

Sion yr eilwaith sy'n Rolant. 

Awn gyntj ar ogleddwynt glas, 

Yn ieuanc iawn i Euas. 32 

Sion am gwahoddes innau, 

Velly ei dad ; a vu well dau ? 

Cynta' aur, o'r cant uriad, 

A roed ym oedd aur ei dad. 36 

Cynta'' dillad taladwy 

Ym a roes Sion o'u mars hwy ; 

Llyna wr grym, llawn oV gras, 

Llywydd a chanllaw Euas ; 40 

CloV dre hir ar sir a'r swydd ; 

I'r Gelli dor ac allwydd ; 

A maen gwn, hyd yn Mynwy, 

A phren o goed Dyfryn Gwy ; 44 

A fridd a chyf o ruddaur ; 

A frwyn i weilch Dyfryn Aur. 

Po hynav, doethav vydd dyn 

Adroddus da ei wreiddyn ; 48 

Gwell vydd hen dderwen yn ddar, 

No dwy ieuainc mewn daiar. 

A gafer o'r hen gyfion 

Yn hengoed, unoed y don ; 52 

Cyf uchel oedd Hywel hael, 

Sion e vo sy un avael ; 

Sion o'r hen gyfion ywV gainc, 

A a ddeuoed gwydd ieuainc ; 56 

Oed Simeon wirion, a'i was ; 

Oed Noe ar warden Euas ; 

Oed Addav o'r eithavion, 

A thri oed Seth ar iad Sion. 60 

25. Sieron, St. Jerome. 46. Dyfryn Aur, the Golden Vale, 

42. Gelli, the Hay, a town in near the village of Longtown, in 
Brecknockshire, upon the Wye. Herefordshire. 



94 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXVIII. 



I THOMAS AB DAVYDD, AB WATCYN, AB HENRI, 
O WENT. 



We have in this poem an account of the bard being at Caerlion, where he 
accidentally met with Thomas ab David, who kindly invited him to an inn 
there, to take some wine with him ; which invitation the bard readily ac- 
cepted; and after refreshing themselves with claret, oranges, and other 
luxuries, Thomas asked him to his house, desiring him, at the same time, 
to be prepared to give him a specimen of his muse. The bard went with 
him, and left this poem as a memorial of Thomas's hospitality, as well as a 
record of his valour. Thomas is here represented as possessing the qualities 
of the eagle, the hawk, and the lion ; and withal a generous disposition. 
From the bard afterwards speaking of the durability and excellency of 
black colour, and applying the epithet to Thomas, it would seem Thomas was 
of a swarthy countenance. The bard compares Thomas's courage in the 
conflict to be, like the black colour, unyielding. He next mentions that 
when there were disturbances every where from Caer Went to Alnwick, the 
fame of Thomas as a warrior was universally spread. 



A mi yn nhrev Caerllion 

Deg ar Wysg, lie buV vort gron ; 

Lie gwelwn, is gwyndwn Gwent, 

Oen da Duw gwindai dwy-Went ; 4 

Troi i davarn o'r tarw dwyvol 

Yn nglan Wysg, vy ngalw^i ei ol ; 

Galw ar y llyn gloew ar lied, 

Galw Oraets, ac ar Glared ; 8 

Yved y gwin yn ddivalch ; 

Egori ei bwrs oV gwr balch ; 

Rhoi aur am win o'r gvvinwydd, 

I minnau rhoi mwnai rhydd; 12 

Erchi'm hevyd gyd ag ev 

Draw a mydr dramwy adrev. 



XXVIII. Addressed to Thomas ab Gwent. He lived at Caerlion on the 
David, ab Watkin, ab Henry, of Usk. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 95 

Dov at Tomas ab Davydd 

Os vy nhraed a saiv yn rhydd. 16 

Eginyn Gwatcyn ywV gwaith 

Ab Henri a phump anrhaith. 

Trigo'n vy euro wnav vi, 

Troi o vewn tre y Venni. 20 

Pwysaw ar ddaiar ddwy-Went, 

Prydu i gorf llewpart Gwent ; 

Mae ardymhyr ar Domas, 

Mai aur trwm, i lawer tras ; 24 

Ardymhyr eryr, neu walch ; 

Neu lew dov, neu hael divalch : 

Dau natur, val Arthur lwyd, 

Ar ei wyneb a ranwyd ; 28 

Natur gwr yn troi i garu, 

Natur llew , n anturiaw llu. 

Yngolwg Marc Vengylwr. 

Yw llew'n y gad, a llun gwr; 32 

A Brutus ab Sylvius oedd 

Lew du ar gwbl o'i diroedd. 

Tomas val Gildas yw'r gwr 

A Hew du yn lie deuwr. 36 

Ni roes na Mair, na Iesu, 

Lliw i un dyn well no du ; 

Lliw du a saiv He daw sias, 

Lliw diemwnt velly Domas. 40 

Du a gyvyd i gyvoeth, 

Ac o wr du rygarw doeth ; 

Du hevyd vydd dihavarch, 

A dewr vvdd du ar ei varch ; 44 

Tomas yntau a ymwan 

Tros wlad hwnt a'r trosol tan. 

Pan vu'r ymdaeru dig 

O Gaer Wen i gwr An wig ; 48 

15. Dov= deuav. 42. rhygarw, (rhy-carw), a deer of 

33. Brutus ab Sylvius, great grand- the first class ; a nonpareil of his 

son of iEneas. See an account of him kind. 

in Brut. Gr. ab Arthur. 48. Caer ]RPim=Caerwent, situated 

35. Gildas, the historian. in the middle of upper Gwent, about 

40. diemwnt, here muchudd ; jet. five miles from Chepstow, was a con- 



96 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ni bu son yn wyneb Sias. 

Onid am a wnai Domas. 

Mair sl'i ceidw, Mwrog, Cedwyn, 

Milwr Gwent ar amJer gwyn. 

Llaw a braich i Gaerllion, 

Llaw ferv ar vwyall a fon. 

Llaw Ieuan vu dan y dwr, 

Bid iddo lawV Bedyddiwr ; 

Llaw o vaint arall a vu, 

Llaw dan len asen Iesu ; 

Llaw Nudd, llaw Ddavydd, oedd dda, 

Llaw Domas ger llaw Deuma ; 

Duw sCi rhoes a phryd rhyswr, 

Duw a ro a garo'r gwr ; 

Duw a ro iddo drioed, 

Dywysa wg cerdd Gwent-is-Coed. 



52 



56 



60 



64 



siderable station in the time of the 
Romans. It was called by the em- 
peror Antoninus, Urbs Venta Silu- 
rum ; and by the Britons, Caer Went. 
There was formerly an academy, or 
university, (supposed to be the first 
in the British dominions,) founded 
here by Tathan, a saint of the col- 
lege of Illtyd, who lived in the be- 
ginning of the sixth century. See 
N. Rogers's Memoirs of Monmouth- 
shire ; also Tathan in the Camb. 
Biog. 

51. Mwrog ) a saint whose history 
is not known. 

55. Llaw Ieuan, &c. The bard 
here wishes his hero to have the 
hand of John the Baptist, by which 
request he probably meant, that as 



the Baptist by putting his hand un- 
der the water was able to lift it up 
again, and baptize a generation of 
vipers; so the bard wished Thomas 
also, whenever he laid hold of the 
poleaxe, might be able in like man- 
ner to lift it up and subdue his foes. 

57- Llaw — arall a vu, the hand of 
Thomas the apostle. 

58. lien a$en=y croen ; the skin 
covering the rib. 

59. Davydd, Thomas ab David's 
father. 

60. Deuma, a Cistercian convent at 
Nantteyrnon, now Lantarnan, near 
Caerlion, dedicated to St. Deuma. It 
was founded in the year 1178. See 
Brut y Tywosogion, in Myv. Arch. 
vol. ii. p. 438. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 97 

XXIX. 

AWDL I DRAHAIARN AB IEUAN AB MEIRIG. 



The bard opens his ode by acknowledging the many obligations he was 
under to Trahaiarn ; who, he says, was descended from Adam of Gwent, 
and Rhirid Vlaidd of Penllyn. He speaks of Trahaiarn as being a man of 
wealth — a thorough gentleman — an accomplished scholar — and one who 
loved to see every thing around him elegant and in good taste, and all his 
friends made comfortable and happy. 



By aur ym, Trahaiarn ! byth a drig i'm byw, 

Mab leuan ab Meirig; 

Dy glared yn enwedig, 

Dy oreis vry dros ei vrig. 4 

O vrig cyf bonheddig hen 

Yr oeddych, ac o'i wreiddyn ; 

O ger Haw trev Gaerllion, 

O deml Wysg, o Adam lin. 8 

Adam ! gwn baham oedd dy hyn, val iarll, 

Rhirid Vlaid o Benllyn ; 

O Went y doi 'n gynta' dyn, 

Ac o Wynedd eginyn. 12 

O Wynedd y mae i'wch ennill, 

O ddwy Went arvau'n un ddull ; 

Tri phen saeth a aeth uwch oil, 

Tri phen blaidd un wraidd yn well. 16 

XXIX. An ode addressed to Tra- heads." The arms of Rhirid Vlaidd 

haiarn, ab leuan, ab Meyrick, of were argent on a pile vert, three 

Penrhos Vwrdios, near Caerlion. wolves' heads erased of the field, one 

8. Adam lin, " of the line of and one. He was lord of Penllyn, 

Adam :" i. e. Adam of Gwent. His in Meirionethshire ; of Pennant Me- 

arms (see line 15) were argent on a langell, in Montgomeryshire; and of 

band sable, three pheons of the first. the eleven Towers, in Shropshire. He 

16. Tri phen blaidd," three wolves' was sister's son of Maredydd ab 

H 



98 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Gwell wyt, Trahaiarn ! darn deyrnaidd, 

Nog wythwyr o wyr ysgwieiriaidd ; 

Gwell Duw oH voli yn ddyvalaidd, 

Gwell gwin, er meithrin pob dyn, no'r maidd ; 

Gwell Hew yn ei view nog arth, neu vlaidd ; 
Gwell cerddwr no dau angherddwraidd : 
Gwell ydwyd nog un gwilliadaidd Tn plitb, 
Gwell ydywV gwenith no rhith yr haidd. 

Yr wyd, Trahaiarn ! yn brophwydaidd, 

Yn dda, o agos, voneddigaidd ; 

Yn llawn gwybodau, ac yn lluniaidd; 

Yn ddyledawg hael, yn dd'iwladaidd. 28 

Yn eryr i'th lys digrynwraidd, 

Yn dywysawg cerdd baradwysaidd ; 

Yn Mhenrhos Vwrdios, pwy vaidd heb law hon ? 

Yn mron Caer Llion val carw llewaidd. 32 

Yn arav ydd wyd, ac yn wraidd, 

Yn rhyw oen nevawl, yn rhieinaidd ; 

Yn wrda llawen, yn unbenaidd, 

Yn arddwyaw cler yn urddaaidd. 36 

Yn ardemlu beirdd yn garuaidd, 

Yn ordeiniaw naw'n gwmp'ni'aidd, 

Yn rhoi draw o'th law'n deuluaidd, rhagllaw 

Yr euraw a ddaw yn arglwyddiaidd. 40 

Iesu yn d'adu, lew Gwyndodaidd ! 

I overwyr byd yn Ivoraidd ; 

I roddi i eirchiaid yn Rhydderchaidd, 

I dalu aur dros gerdd eosaidd. 44 

Bleddyn, prince of Powys. He lived aidd), noble, splendid, stately, 

about the middle of the 12th cen- 37. ardemlu =ardyaw; to entertain. 

tury. See an elegy upon him, by 41. lew Gwyndodaidd, "a lion of 

Cynddelw Prydydd' Mawr, in the the North." Trahaiarn is so desig- 

Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 229. nated as being descended from Rhirid 

29. digrynii'raidd (di-cryn-gwr- Vlaidd. 






Y DOSPARTH I. 99 

Aed Huryg Curig Varchog gwraidd, 

Fth ogylch, i'th gylch, Tth lys galchaidd ; 

A'th noddi o Dduw i'th awenyddaidd wyr, 

Ein nevawl eryr yn vilwraidd. 48 

Dy gwpzvrt dy gwrt sy gyrti'aidd, 

Dy ddysg sydd amlach no'r gwrysg a'u gwraidd, 

Dy lyvrau (eto'n Gymmroaidd) ysgol, 

Wrth reol, ydynt wir athrawaidd. 52 

Dy adar, dy win yn vreninaidd, 

Dy gan, dy arian rhag ein diwraidd ; 

Dy aur a roddaist yn awduraidd rym, 

Er dy voli ym, wyr Rhirid Vlaidd ! 56 

49. cwpwrl=a cupboard. 



H % 



100 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXX. 

I RISIART TWRBIL, O LANDUDWG. 



It appears, from this ode, that the bard was in North Wales when he 
composed it ; and that when he visited Turberville he had with him from 
thence a band, or troop, of minstrels. He says that Turberville was a de- 
scendant from Iestyn, lord of Glamorgan, and from Payne Turberville ; and 
also that he was connected with the Leyson family. His mansion is said to 
be as extensive as that of Grainville's ; and in point of wealth it is classed 
with the house of Herbert, earl of Pembroke. The cellars of Turberville are 
mentioned as being ever well stocked with all kinds of wine of his own im- 
portation. After this, the bard alludes to Turberville's liberality to minstrels ; 
and then wishing him and his wife a long life, and a numerous family to 
keep up the name of Turberville, he concludes by saying that he and the 
minstrels from Gwynedd would doubtless be rewarded. 



lechwedd Gwynedd i Vorganwg wen, 

1 ganu i Landudwg ; 
Risiart Twrbil, heb gilwg, 
A ddyd rodd i dda a drwg. 

Ei dda a bara val maen beril mawr, 
Mab Siancyn Twrbervil ; 
Iesu a wna o Sisil , 
Osod i'n o Iestyn hil. 

Hil Risiart Twrbil a gaif teirban byd, 
Er bod yn ngwlad Vorgan ; 



XXX. An ode addressed to Ri- 8. Iestyn = Iestyn ab Gwrgant, 

chard Turberville, of Llandudwg, lord of Glamorgan. Payne, the first 

Glamorganshire. This Richard, as Turberville, of Coedty, married Asar, 

well as the other Turbervilles, or daughter of Iestyn. He afterwards 

Turbils, in the counties of Glamorgan sided with the Welsh, and besieged 

and Brecknock, are descendants of Fitzhamon in his castle of Cardiff, 

the first Payne Turberville, who came and forced him to abrogate the Nor- 

over with Richard Fitzhammon. He man laws which he had imposed 

had for his share, of the spoils of upon his new subjects. 
Glamorgan, the castle and lordship of 9. teirban byd, the three quarters 

Coedty, near Bridge End. of the globe. The fourth quarter, or 

Arms, chequy or and gules, a fesse America, was, probably, not known 

erm. to the bard. 

Crest, an eagle displayed sable. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 101 

I vro ucho wlad Vrychan, 

A bro Frainc; mae'n braf ei ran. 12 

Rhan plaid Lleisioniaid lies y w enwi rhyw ; 

Rhan o Lyr Merini ; 

Rhan oi'r Peutyn, un a ni, 

Heddyw rhan dda yw rhei'ni. 16 

At ryw y rhai'n, trwy yr hwyr, 

Y trov ; cadwed Duw yr aer; 
Troi-i'r gwin, a'r tri ryw gwyr, 

Troi ar gylch i'r twr aV gaer. 20 

Caer wen y barwn aV cyrn beril, 

Y sy gaer unvaint a llys Greinvil ; 
Deudy o Gymmry, nid an 1 is gil, 

Trysordy Herbart, Risiart Twrbil. 24 

Ac yn Llandudwg, lie dwg ystil, 

Y gwin a berir o gan' baril ; 

Ac yn ber eisoes cael gwin Brossil, 

A gwin 3 oes oesoedd, gwyn o Sisil. 28 

Bychan, bob wythnos, o Vwrdios vil 

O longau a gwin, neu leng gynnil ; 

O vadau'n ymmod, riv deunawmil, 

Ac yn neg gyrva ugain carviL 32 

Blodeuyn Siancyn ni chais encil 

Er bwrw ynn sylltau, megys hau hil ; 

13. Lleisioniaid, the family of the He received, in recompense for his 

Leysons. Lleision, a name frequent services, the lordship of Neath. He 

in Glamorganshire in former times : was the ancestor of* the Grenvilles, 

now Leyson, Leysons, Leeson, &c. and the present Duke of Bucking- 

22. Greinvil = Grainville. The ham. 
Grainvilles were of Neath castle. 26. Y gwin a berir, " wine will be 

Richard de Grainville, or Greenefeld, ordered." 
and Constance his wife, founded the 27. Brossil= Brussels, 

monastery of Neath. Richard de 28. gwin gwyn Sisil, now Bronti 

Grainville was one of the twelve Nor- wine, 
man knights who accompanied Ro- Sisil = Sicily. 

bert Fitzhammon, and assisted him 29. Vwrdios = Bwrdios ; Bordeaux, 

in the conquest of Glamorganshire. 32. carvil, a dray horse. 

h3 



102 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Er bwrw berth ogrwydd, val arglwydd Lil, 

A bwrw ein costiau val brenin Castil. 36 

Pe rbodiwn i bob rhyd wen, neu bil, 

A'r divandvor a rodiai Vandvil ; 

Ni chawn ddyn o Leyn hyd yn Ngbaer Lil, 

Onid Risiart o natur assil. 40 

Bwa Yw oesawg, a llavn Basil, 

A byw yw Risiart val coed Brasil ; 

A byr yr ateb wyr oV Owtil, 

A brau'n nghwynvan y bwrw anghenvil. 44 

Ni thery addwyn, na thra eiddil, 

E dery wag was drwy ei wegil ; 

A'u bar isod, val briwo assil, 

Y briw ambell ; oni bai'r ymbil. 48 

Ei air ev yngod yw'r evengyl, 

Ei wyr a genmyl i ar ugeinmil ; 

Ei osawg perfaith a wisg porfil, 

O waed Ewropa y daw'r eppil. 51 

Tyvu'n aeddved, dovi hen wyddvil, 

A wna, a'i venwyr, val hen Vonvil ; 

Tebygu'n cyrchu, o'v min Tr cil, 

A wna i Gadvan ac i Wdvil. 56 



35. arglwydd Lil, John Talbot, 41. Bwa Yw oesawg, a llavn Basil, 
lord Lisle, eldest son of John Talbot, " A bow of the lasting yew, and a 
(the famed earl of Shrewsbury), by Basel blade." Basil, Bale, the capi- 
Margaret, his second wife. He was tal, and largest town of Bale, other- 
created viscount Lisle, in 1451. wise Basle, or Basel, one of the nine- 

36. Castil, Old Castile, an exten- teen cantons of Switzerland. 
sive province in Spain. 42. coed Brasil = Brasil wood. 

38. divandvor— divan tvor (di-man- 43. Owtil= Italy, 
mor), the illimitable sea. 51. porfil purple. 

Vandvil, sir John Mandeville, a 53. Vonvil, William Bonville, cre- 

celebrated early traveller, born at St. ated lord Bonville and Harington, in 

Alban's, about the beginning of the 1449. 

14th century. 56. Wdvil, Anthony Woodville, 

39. Caer Lil, the town Carlisle. created lord Scales in right of his 

40. assil, perhaps, one who assails; wife, in 1461. 
an assailant. 



Y DOSPARTH T. 103 

Deued dar oV coed i Dewdrig hil, 

A dau gan'-mwy no deugainmil ; 

A dwy oes oesoedd i gadw Sisil, 

I'r tarw byw arvawg o'r Twrbervil. 60 

Twrbervil ! Twrbil a'r cant wart yn rhan, 

Un o'r rhai'n oedd Gilbart ; 

Oes ei dad, i osod art, 

A ro Iesu i Risiart. 64 

Rhisiart a roddai, mewn rhysedd, Siancyn, 

Naw ryw ]yn ar ei wledd ; 

Aur i mi a ry, a medd ; 

Aur a gwin i wyr Gwynedd. 68 



57. Tewdrig, a saint in the fifth where a church was erected on the 
century, of royal descent. He was spot of his martyrdom ; and from him 
slain by the pagan Saxons in Gwent, called Merthyr Tewdrig. 



II 4 



104 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXXI. 



O GAERLLION AR WYSG. 



This ode is well written, and it is an interesting one ; for the bard, having 
been cruelly robbed of his furniture at Chester, was* compelled to apply to 
the generosity of his friends to assist him in refurnishing his house. He asks 
Annes to present him with a bed-curtain, and giving her, at the same time, a 
description of the one he wished to have, proceeds to say : " To Annes belongs 
a curtain on which are depicted every kind of trees in full leaves, and all manner 
of birds, besides lions and stags. Also the holy cross ; and the Blessed Virgin 
guarding over the twelve apostles. On it also are represented the saints, and 
the Saviour of the world. The blooming trefoil is not forgotten here ; neither 
are the French gardens, nor the branching forest. We have here also a re- 
presentation of a shield, and of arrows ; and even of the head of the lately 
dreaded foe covered with pins. Yonder, we behold lions attacking their 
prey ; and here, we behold the weapons of Herbert. On that portion is de- 
picted a leopard, and on this the lion of Edward. Above, the moon is seen 
surrounded with the stars. And in each corner of this beautiful curtain we 
behold four angels clothed in robes ; and in the centre of it a representation 
of God ; and also that of a man, a lion, an eagle, and an ox." 



Annes f aeron Sion, vy nghwrs enwi haeL 
Hil Watcyn ab Henri ; 
Amies oedd, einioes iddi ; 
Annes hael, a henwais hi. 

Hi yw'r bena^ Nghaerllion, 
Ei gwr sy benach nog un 
I roi, o'i gost, aur a gwin 
Iwro gerdd er ei gan. 



XXXI. An ode to Annes, of Caer- that they, under some pretence or 
lion, soliciting a bed curtain. The other, took from him all his house- 
bard, it seems, had intended to settle hold furniture, and insisted on his 
in Chester, and with that view mar- quitting the city. See Pennant's 
ried a widow there ; but as it was Tour in Wales ; and Yorke's Royal 
against the consent of the inhabit- Tribes, 
ants, it so exasperated the citizens, 



Y DOSPARTH I. 105 

A ganwyv a'm daint, ac a'm genau, 

I Annes a drig yn oes dreigiau, 

Yn oes hen seren, neu vesurau pren ; 

Neil yn oes heulwen, neu nos olau, 12 

Arver mae Annes o Baderau, 
Arver eiliw ser a Llaswyrau ; 
OV galon y rhyV Gwyliau am Sallwyr, 

law a synwyr, elusenau. 16 

Da iawn yw Annes aur gadwynau, 

Da ydyw Annes o'i diodau ; 

Da Annes am len denau o Arres^ 

Da Duw i Annes, daed ei doniau ! 20 

Mae Annes haeldeg lle'r oedd Degau, 

Lle'r oedd Gwenhwyvar, a'i boll raddau ; 

Lie gwelid Enid ynau o asur, 

Lie mae mur Arthur mawr ei wyrthiau. 24 

Vy nghwyn wrth Annes, a'i charesau, 

1 Gaerlleon Gawr, yn gorllwyn gau, 

Vy yspeiliaw draw dri lau o'm mawredd, 

Ac o'm holl annedd, ac o'm llenau ; 28 

Lien sydd i Annes yn Uawn lluniau ; 

Llun gwiail, llun dail, a llun delwau ; 

Llun adar daiar, diau ; llun llewod ; 

Llun y ceirw isod, a llun croesau ; 32 

Llun Mair, a'r deuddeg rnewn cadeiriau ; 

Llun saint a Iesu, a llun santesau ; 

Llun meillion gwyrddion, llun garddau Frengig, 

Llun brig y goedwig yn vagadau. 36 



13. Paderau, Pater nosters. 19. Arres = Arras, a town of 

14. Llaswyrau, Psallwyr : a Psal- France, where fine line is manufac- 
ter: a Ritual. tured. Arras is well known by its 

15. Sallwyr, here persons who tapestry, called by the Italians, from 
sing, or chant, the Psalms : also the town, Arrazi. 

members of a choir ; choristers. Both 21 — 23. Tegau Eur on, Gwerihwy- 

Llaswyr and Sallwyr are corruptions var, and Enid. The three fair ladies 

of Psallwyr. of the court of Arthur, 



106 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Llun tarian penaeth, a llun saethau ; 

Llun pen a ovnid, yn llawn pinau ; 

Llewod i orvod ; llun arvau Herbart ; 

Llewpart, Hew Edwart ; llun lleuadau ; 40 

Llun pedwar angel, yn Nghornelau 

Lien Annes heulwen, mewn casulau ; 

Duw sy'n y canol bob diau, a'i glych ; 

Gwr, Llew 9 Eryr, Ych sy gaerllaw'r iau. 44 

Nos Ystwyll yr av wrth ganwyllau 

Wassel, gyda'm Hen, o chav brenau ; 

Holi ac Ivi yn gwau, gwielyn 

Celyn brig velyn, ac avalau. 48 

Mail* a gatwo'r Maer yn ei gaerau, 

Mae Grufydd yn rhoi ei vudd yn vau ; 

Mae Annes hevyd i minnaif n rhoi da, 

Mae , r gair drvvy'r Ddena mor dda yw'r ddau. 52 

Da Annes os daV arglwyddesau, 
Haelach yw Annes no'r iarllesau ; 
Annes ywV santes, hwyntau islaw'r wawr, 
Uwchlaw'r rhai'n wythawr y mae hithau. 56 

Haelav yw Annes oV Annesau, 

Annes hael, merch Sion, dan inselau ; 

Annes yw duges a dau wrth roi da, 

Einioes i wraV. Annes orau. 60 

Gorau un o'r gwyr gwra, Annes grair ! 

Gorau gwraig y w Annes ; 

Gorau lien, val taken tes, 

Yw'r lien a ry Haw Annes. 64 

39. Herbart, Herbert, earl of Pern- sage may be in allusion to the astro- 
broke, logy of the times. Annes is said to 

40. Edivart, Edward IV. be like a star ascended above the 
43. bob diau=boh dydd. horizon, or ascendant ; whilst all the 

49. Maer, the mayor of Caerlion. other ladies (hwyntau) are said to be 

50. Grufydd, the name of Annes's below the ascendant, and consequently 
husband. not visible. The astrological scheme 

yn vau=yn eiddov. is divided into 12 houses — six above, 

55. islawW wawr, &c. This pas- and six below the horizon. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 107 

XXXII. 

I SION AB DAVYDD, O VRO WYR. 



The bard opens his poem by apologizing to John ab David for not hav- 
ing paid him an earlier visit. His manner of reasoning is as follows : Over 
night he had made up his mind to go the following day ; but when the 
morning came he found that he could not act up to his previous resolution. 
And so he went on for several nights and days ; but at last he made up his 
mind ; and, as it were, fearful of trusting to the following day, he said, " I 
will go this night, and be there before the dawn." Immediately upon this 
he compliments John ab David, and his wife, on their children ; and alluding 
to Jacob, and to Hezron, as founders of families, he entertained a hope that 
one day John ab David would be known in the land of Gower as the founder 
of many a distinguished family. He concludes by speaking of their kindness 
and liberality; and promises that, in future, his poetry will sound forth in 
their praise only. 



Yvoey awn i vro Wyr, 

Ni aetham yno neithiwyr ; 

Doe hwyliaw, da wehelyth, 

Trenydd; a pheunydd ; a phyth. 4 

HeddywMd av, Sion ab Davydd, 

Heno i'w dai cyn y dydd ; 

Impyn yw'n mhob pen i Wyr, 

A'i goed ieuainc hyd awyr ! 8 

A gwinllan deg, yn llawn dail, 

Yw Mawd lie mae ei adail ; 

Mab Davydd ddedwydd, waywdwn ; 

Sion o hil Lleision yw hwn ; 12 

Merch Vorgan, val y ganon, 

(Mawd) hil Gwilymiaid y w hon ; 

Dau gymmhar ynt un gariad, 

Dewi, ac un Duw a'u gad. 16 



XXXII. Addressed to John ab which follow the present one are ad- 
David, of Gower. He lived at Cil dressed to the son of the above John 
Vai, near Swansea. The four poems ab David. 



108 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Duw iddo a wnaeth deuddyn 

lun Duw, i voddloni dyn ; 
Adda, Eva, 'n ddwy avael ; 

Ac o'r ddau hyn gwreiddiau hael. 20 

Mesydd y Llys Newydd nen 

Ydyw mesydd Damasen ; 

Duw yno a wnaeth dynion, 

Val y gwnaeth Veilig a Non ; 24 

Sion, a Mawd rhosyn y medd, 

Yw'r ddau ben o wraidd bonedd ; 

OV rhai'n y tyv rhieni 

Daiar Wyr bob dau, bob dri. 28 

1 I sag mab vu Iago, 

Ac o'i vab a'i wraig e vo ; 

Gwir vu'n Ngryw, ac Ebryw, gael 

Ymlaen Hesrom lanw Israel ; 32 

O Sion a'i veibion o Vawd, 

Y daw per yn goed parawd ; 
O wmad y Llys Newydd 

Y lleinw Gwyr val llwynau gwydd ; 36 
O win y mae mwy no mwy 

Yn y tai ar Ian Tawy ; 

Cornel lie cai Lywelyn 

Goch y Dant livant o lyn ; 40 

Ar derm bywyd i ware 

Mae'n ei ol ym yno le ; 

Nid llai, yn Nghil Vai o vedd, 

Nag o'r gwin nog eirw Gwynedd. 44 

22. mesydd Damasen, " the acorns A'i ddwylaw gwynion, 

of Damascus." An epithet which the Gwiwlun Adda, 

bard gives to the children of John ab 24. Meilig=N.e'ilig ab Caw, a saint 

David. who lived in the sixth century. In 

There was a tradition, not only the early part of his life he served in 

among the Welsh bards, but also the wars under Arthur, 

among the Mahometans, that the 32. Hesrom, see Numb. xxvi. 21. 

garden of Eden lay near Damascus. 39. Llywelyn Goch y Dant, an 

See W. Rae Wilson's Travels in the itinerant minstrel. See Dedri in Dr. 

Holy Land, &c. vol. ii. p. 117. Jonas W. O. Pughe's Diet. 

Mynyw, however, places Eden near 43. Oil Vai, a conical hill east of 

mount Hebron, in Palestine. And Swansea, where once was the resi- 

accordingly he says, dence of John ab David ; but of 

Ev a wnaeth Panton which there are now no remains left. 
Ar lawr Glyn Ebron, 



Y DOSPAETH I. 109 

Estyner oes y dynion 

IV gwan i roiV gwin o Ron ; 

Yno iV bwrdd yn eu byw 

O ddieithrach dda wythry w ; 48 

Bara un sens, ger bron swrn, 

O ael Ysbaen a Lisbwrn ; 

Bwngernart ddeugwart, bob ddau ; 

Bwnswgr wrth dderbyn seigiau ; 52 

Un yw oreis, enw arall, 

Y gwin (o'r Hong) gwyn y w'r Hall ; 

Vy mendith vo'n eu trithai, 

Ac i'r tir dan gwr y tai ; 56 

Vm pader ymleverydd, 

Duw, a Sion, a Mawd y sydd ; 

Pan ddarfo am gredo'r grog, 

Ym son, ac am oes Enog ; 60 

Ni wnav a'm pen, a'm tavawd ; 

Son mwy ond am Sion a Mawd. 



46. gwin o Ron, wine from the perhaps, Perry made from the pear 

provinces of Beaujolais and Leonnais, called Bergamot. 

formerly forming a part of the de- 52. Bwnswgr, (Bon Sucre,) per- 

partment of the Rhone. haps Cider made from the Sugar 

51. Bwngernart (in the provincial Apple. The bard, in his merriment, 

language of Germany Bunkartin, and calls the one (lines 53,54,) orange, 

in that of France, Bonne Chretienne), and the other Foreign white wine. 



110 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXXIII. 

I DAVYDD AB SION, O VRO WYR. 



The bard addresses David ab John as a young man who possessed a con- 
siderable store of knowledge ; and as one who had an expressive countenance. 
He reminds him what pleasant time they had often spent together ; and that 
he was resembling his father, and that more daily, in generosity ; and, by 
way of compliment, calls him a scion from the stock of Hopkin, the generous. 
He then prays for his preservation. And next telling him that he partook of 
the good qualities of the Leysons as well as of those of Clement of Gwent, he 
mentions that he was strongly endowed with the four temperaments of the 
human constitution. After this, he alludes to his character as a warrior; 
and concludes by making honourable mention of both his parents. 



Ygwr ieuanc val Greal, 

A dawn Duw'n vlodau'n ei dal. 

Davydd rhoest win o devyrn, 

Do, a gwaith heidiau o gyrn. 4 

I dyviad Sion ab Davydd 

Y troi, yn ol natur Nudd ; 

Un gwreiddyn o Hopcyn hael 

Wyt o Wyr a'r to urael ; 8 

Galawnt Davydd ab Gwilym, 

Ab Siancyn oV gwreiddyn grym. 

Llaw Dduw i'th gylch, llwydd yth gaid, 

Lliw sinobl o'r Lleisioniaid. 12 

Clement Gwent ar wystl gantai, 

Angel o vab yn Nghil Vai. 

Davydd, pedwar devnydd dyn 

Fth wyneb vyth a ennyn ; 16 



XXXIII. Addressed to David ab ence to his extensive knowledge of 

John, of Cil Vai, near Swansea. things. 

1. Greal, a Magazine. Originally 12. sinobl = cinabar : red ore of 

the name of a celebrated book of quicksilver. 

Welsh stories, long since lost, highly Lliw sinobl, of a ruddy, or fair, 

extolled by different writers. David complexion. 

is here compared to a Greal in refer- 15. pedwar devnydd dyn, " the 



Y DOSPARTH I. Ill 

Yr hav yn benav y bydd, 

Sanguinius yn ei gynnydd. 

Dir iawn yw ei dri anian, 

Ovni dim a vo yn dan. 20 

Y mae d'Wn yma Davydd 

Yn varwawr oil, neu Vor Udd. 

Gras y sydd, val gwres y Sieb, 

Wedi ennyn dy wyneb ; 24 

Brig sirig yn gyrs euraid, 

Brig aur rhod ar wybr a gaid. 

Gold daiar uwch gwlad Dwy-Went, 

Gwreichionen o gadben Gwent. 28 

Etivedd dewredd hyd Wy, 

Etewyn Abertawy. 

Ti o'r sir yw'r tors euraid, 

NeuV ddraig goch yn ddeuwr y caid. 32 

Cadwallan mab Gad van gynt, 

A'u vilwyr a ryvelynt ; 

Yn ei ol Braint Hir ei nai, 

A'u luyddwyr a laddai ; 36 

Braint Hir ar randir o Wyr 

Wyd o Sion da ei synwyr ; 

A nai ieuanc yn nwy-Went 

I'n Hew wyt eurlliw o Went ; 40 



four elements of which man is com- selling, any thing that may be bought, 
posed." Here the bard alludes to the or sold,) Cheap ; market : a pur- 
old philosophy, current in his time, of chase ; bargain. Cheapside, in Lon- 
the four elements, namely, earth, air, don : also, a market town, 
fire, and water. The four tempera- 25. Brig sirig, &c. " It is the 
ments of the human frame were sup- tinge of a rich silk dress appearing 
posed to correspond with them ; and in golden streaks." Sirig (Sericum, 
also with the twelve signs of the byssus. Gr. <rr]piK6v. Dr. Davies's 
zodiac, four in each triplicity. Hence Diet.), Seric cloth : a silken, or per- 
we have sanguine to correspond with haps, a cotton, or muslin garment. 
air ; choler with fire ; melancholy with The Seres were celebrated for their 
water ; and phlegm with earth. fine transparent cloth, the materials 

22. Mor Udd, the name of the for which, as the ancients relate, they 
British sea, or king's channel. used to comb from trees. Hence it 

23. val gwres y Sieb, " like the is uncertain what it was, whether cot- 
animated glow, ardour, or fervency, ton, or silk. 

conspicuous (in the countenances of 33. CWwa/^m=Cadwallon ab Cad- 
buyers and sellers) at a market." van. See Camb. Biog. 
Sieb (Sax. ceap, cattle, business or 36. Braint Hir, the nephew of Cad- 
trade, a price, a pledge or pawn, a wallon. See Camb. Biog. - 



112 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Bwa a saeth Davydd ab Sion 

Wyd i aros y dewrion ; 

Weithiau'n gleddauV arglwyddi 

Weithiau'n oen yn ein iaith ni ; 44 

Ni vaddeui vi ddwyawr, 

Ac nid ai o'r gwindy awr. 

Ni vaddeuav di Ddavydd, 

Er naw o Ivor a Nudd ; 48 

Gorau ugain oV gwragedd 

Yw dy vam am ddiawd vedd. 

Gorau dau a gar dewin 

Yw dy dad, a diawd win ; 52 

Gorau dithau, yn ngwisg urael, 

Ond y rharn sydd yn dra hael. 

Dy haelder, dy wychder da, 

Dy arver yn y dyrva ; 56 

Dy arian, nid rhaid eiriol, 

Dy aur a wna d'air yn ol. 

Dy fyniant yn voliant vydd 

I dir Gwyr yn dragywydd. 60 



49 — 52. Gorau ugain, &c. From that at the time when this poem was 

the circumstance of the bard not al- written, he was still unmarried, 
luding here to David ab John's hav- 51 . efewm=bardd ; prophwyd. 

ing a wife, whilst mentioning his fa- 57. eiriol =deisyv. 

ther and mother; it has been thought, 



Y DOSPARTH I. 113 

XXXIV. 

I DAVYDD AB SION, O VRO WYR. 



This ode opens with an acknowledgment of the many acts of kindness 
our bard had experienced at the hands of David ab John. Then alluding to 
the contest and triumph of Taliesin at the court of Maelgwn Gwynedd, he 
boasts of his ability to retain, against every opposition, the high honour he 
had in being the chief bard of David ab John. He next attributes to his 
patron the gentleness of a lamb towards the aged, the good, and the deserv- 
ing ; but paints him terrible as death against the treacherous and those who 
acted unjustly. He likens him to wild-fire, in overcoming the worthless and 
the vicious ; but with respect to the weak, and the unprotected, he says that 
he was their gold, and their life. After this, he mentions that David ab John 
was courted by all ranks in society. Then, after describing him in his cha- 
racter of a warrior, he concludes by eulogizing his goodness and kindhearted- 
ness, both of which, he says, he inherited from his father. 



Davydd ab Sion rydd, o wreiddyn divalch, 

Ab Davydd ab Hopcyn ; 

Davydd dared a ovyn ; 

Dwy wlad a borthid ai lyn. 4 

Ei vrethyn 5 a'i lyn, am lais, ml Gwilym ! 

A roes ym, iris rhoi Sais ; 

Ei sidan ev a gevais; 

Ei ddwbled velved am v'ais. 8 

Aur a velved ar vilvyrdd, 

A ry'n braf ar un brivfordd ; 

Aur ungost, er awengerdd, 

A bair ev ar ei brivardd. 12 

Eil)rivardd ydwyv od ymbrovwn, val 
Un o veirdd llys Maelgwn ; 



XXXIV. An ode to the same elected to the throne about the year 
David ab John, of Cil Vai, near 546 ; and died, about the year 560, 



of an epidemic called y Vad Velen, or 
14. Maelgwn = Maelgwn Gwyn- yellow plague, which at that time 
edd, king of the Cambrian Britons was very prevalent in Wales, 
after the death of Arthur. He was 



114 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Yn iarll darogan a wn 

Hil y gwr hael a garwn. 16 

Oen yw i garu yr hen gwirion, 

Angeu yw hevyd i'r anghyvion ; 

Gwalldan yw'n dovi rhai gwylltion diriaid, 

Aur yw, ac enaid, i rai gweinion. 20 

Nid gwell ysgwier, myn llyvr Sieron ! 

Un haid o Ddugiaid a'u swyddogion; 

Neu chweugain o varchogion, neu d'wysog 

Neu iarll a'i osog nog wyr Lleision. 24 

A vu un mor hael hyd vin mor Rhon ? 

Na vu ond Rhydderch, vaint ei roddion ; 

A vu un mor deg o Von i Gaer Dyv, 

Oni vu Selyv, neu Absalon ? 28 

A gad un mor ddevvr ei ergydion ? 

Na chad o'r dengwlad, ond milwyr Don. 

A gad un mor ddoeth o goed union Gwent, 

Na dau is eV merit, onid Salmon ? 32 

Pob gradd a'i govyn val Tre Vaddon, 
Graddau o gerddau'n ngynau gwyrddion ; 
Graddau heb gerddau, "m gweryddon ! y w'r llaill ; 
A graddau eraill o gerddorion. 36 

Rhan o bob addysg, rhai'n bibyddion, 

Weithiau rhai eraill yn grythorion ; 

Eraill yn delynorion, wyl uchel ; 

Rhai a a lle'dd el ; eraill a ddon.' 40 

Dy w Llun, a dyw Mawrth, trwy goed Uinon ; 
Dyw Mercher, dyw lau, drwy wlad Meirchion ; 



33. Tre Vaddon, the town, of Bath. chieftain of the Britons of Cumbria. 

34. 'to ngynau=mewn gynau. He lived about the beginning of the 

35. 'wa gweryddon I = ym gwyr- fifth century. He was the grand- 
yvon ! father of Urien Rheged, and of Lly- 

42. drwy wlad Meirchion, "through warch Hen. 
Cumberland." Meirchion Gul was a 



Y DOSPARTH I. 115 

Gwener a Sadwrn, val y ganon vul ; 

AtoV av ddyw Sul^ tra veiddwy' son. 44 

Pob blwyddyn yr av drwy'r briv avon, 

Pob tymhor, drwy'r mor, o dir Meirion ; 

Pob mis o'r wy th dymhor y don', pob trimis ; 

Pob wythnos o'r mis i Sandwis Sion. 48 

Ev a -wyv Davydd, a'r gwayw rhuddon 5 

Vwrw chwe gelyri ar ei veirch gwelwon ; 

Ev a dyr gweywyr gwywon, yn arail ; 

Evo a gynnail arvau gwynion. 5% 

Ev yw'r ddar a gar wyr y goron, 

Ev a gar y ddar lu o ddewrion ; 

Ev y w'r par marwar yn Mon, y vaner ; 

Ev a yr niver i Vor Neivion. 56 

Vy mendith i'r blaidd santaidd o Sion, 

Vy meistr y w Davydd, ddewis hydd Sion ; 

Vy hydd, esilltydd Sion, y sy drahael ; 

Vy Hygad ar v'ael ! os anhael Sion. 60 

Ev a rydd yn Ngwyr, wrth synwyr, Sion ; 

Ev a roes ei aur sl'\ vara, Sion ! 

Ev Ddavydd y sydd val Sion am ariant 

Ev yw Dewi sant o Vawd a Sion. 64 



i% 



116 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXXV. 



AWDL I DAVYDD AB SION, O VRO WYR, PAN OEDD 
WEDI MYNED I RUVAIN. 



The bard, in this ode, records the departure of David ab John on a pil- 
grimage to Rome, who went, as a palmer, with a walking stick in his hand, 
and also a key. The country, he says, lamented his absence. The bard 
himself appears to be altogether inconsolable on account of his departure. 
And from what he says, (in line 29,) it seems that David ab John was com- 
missioned to bring home indulgences for several of his friends. And we are 
informed that offerings upon the altar, for his safe return, had been solemnly 
given at the preceding vespers by his anxious mother, and by the bard him- 
self. 



Aeth synwyr tir Gwyr i geurydd y Pab, 

Hebog Sion ab Davydd ; 

Adre doed yn dra dedwydd, 

Ganto'r hav ag enaid rhydd. 4 

Yn ieuanc yr aeth o'r Llys Newydd ; baun 

A f6n big, ac allwydd ; 

A dyvod a wnel Davydd 

Hyd tir ei dad, cyn tri dydd. 8 

Cymmru'n hiraethu am yr hydd, o bryd 

Brodyr a chwiorydd ; 

Cerddorion, hyd Von vynydd ; 

Dros hwn yn pryderu sydd. 12 

Wrth wyn Mawd, y fawd dda ei fydd, a'r saint ; 

Wrth wyn Sion yn dry dydd ; 

Wrth wyn pob overddyn vydd 

Ei dro ev drwy'r holl drevydd. 16 



XXXV. An ode to the same Da- 13. Wrth wyn Mawd, &c. " agree- 

vid ab John, of Cil Vai, near Swan- able to the wish of Maud." 
sea, after his departure for Rome. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 117 

Ev aeth i Ruvain, eryr o'r Dwyrain, 

A Duw'n ei arwain Edwin orwyr ; 

Ydd wyv yni ddel heb vedd, a heb vel ; 

Heb gafael cartel wrth oleu cwyr. 20 

Heb win yn y byd, heb garlrev hevyd ; 

Heb einioes ennyd, heb un synwyr ; 

Gwell ym, sCi galled, wyliau ei weled.; 

Nog i wr o Gred weled ei wyr. 24 

Troi natur eos yn nydd, ac yn nos, 

Yn agos i glos Vernagl a wyr ; 

Plygain, dwyrain dawn, anterth, aberth iawn ; 

A boreu a nawn, a phyrnawn hwyr. 28 

Cwmpas Ystasiwn a dry val yn drwn, 

Cael pardwn memrwn i dalm o wyr: 

Yn Rhuvain rhivaw dros win a chiniaw ; 

Ac yno Ueisiaw wyth-gan 1 Llaswyr. 32 

Dan un, hollsaint nev oil a'i nertha ev, 

A ninnau'n un llev arnyn"' yn llwyr ; 

Dwyn ofrwm dinam (ei vardd ev, a'i vam) 

I Dduw a wnaetham ddoe a neithiwyr. 36 

I edrych adrev bid ei wyneb ev, 

O drev Rhuvain grev hyd ar Gaer Wyr ; 

Dros vynydd Mynau, glan Rhin a'i glynau, 

Drwy vlaenau'r Deau wlad, hyd vro Wyr. 40 



24. Nog i wr wyr. The bard al- 28. pyrnawn =prydnawn. 

hides here to the adage, 29. Ystasiwn = station, (among Ro- 

Ni cherir yn llwyr * man catholics), a church, or chapel, 

Oni ddelo yr wyr. appropriated to pray in, and gain in- 

25. Yn agos i glos Vernagl, " near diligences. 

St. Veronica's shrine." Vernagle, 38. Caer Wyr, Swansea, the for- 

Vernicle : St. Veronica's napkin, tress, or key, of Gower land : now 

which is reported, by the papists, to Abertawy. 

have an impression of Christ's face 39. Dros vynydd Mynau, &c. 

upon it, by his wiping his face upon " Over the Alps, and along the 

it as he was carrying the cross. banks and the valleys of the Rhine." 



iS 



118 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXXVI. 

I DAVYDD AB SION, O VRO WYR. 



David ab John, from the land of Gower, is surely a vine, in that he 
causes his wine to flow as from a fountain in perennial streams, that reach 
even to the isle of Mona. In return, says the bard, for such generosity, the 
bards of Mona celebrate his praises in endless songs. And as the ox submits 
himself to the yoke, so, he says, the bards willingly engage themselves in the 
service of David ab John. The bard, after this, indulges himself in forming 
triads, in each of which an honourable mention is made of his patron. He 
next mentions his wife, and speaks of her as being one of the very best of 
women, and the ode ends in her praise, and that of her husband. 



Davydd sydd winwydd ab Sion, o dir Gwyr ; 

I droi'r gwin yn fynnon ; 

Davydd, megys dwy avon, 

A'i dyry vyth hyd ar Von. 4 

Yn Mon Benmynydd hevyd, val had vydd 5 

O odlau odlydd ddwyvil i Ddavydd ; 

Rhiv gwellt yr elltydd, a'r gvvawn o'r gweunydd ; 

Rhiv gwlith rhos, a gwlydd, oedd ei ovn Ddavydd. 8 

Ych Tr iau echwydd oedd ddov, oedd uvydd, 
Beirddion y byrddydd oedd ddov i Ddavydd ; 
Parcer, rhag cerydd, a gau ynghylch gwydd ; 
Cau ynghylch cywydd ydd wyv i Ddavydd. 12 

Bronvraith a ieithydd, hudawl ehedydd, 

Eaws dragy wydd vyddav i Ddavydd ; 

Tri man trwy'r mynydd a gyrch awenydd ; 

Tir havawg, trevydd, teveirn, at Davydd. 16 



XXXVI. An ode addressed to the of a park. The bard applies to him- 

same David ab John, of Cil Vai, self the term parker by a simile. 

near Swansea. This ode was written 15. Tri man a gyrch awenydd, 

after his return from Rome ; and three places frequented by poets : 
after his marriage with Gwenllian, namely, a common, towns, and pub- 
daughter of Jenkin ab Owain. lie-houses. 

1 1 . Parcer = parker ; the keeper 



Y DOSPARTH I. 119 

Tri pheth (trwy y fydd) arvawg, ni ddervydd ; 
Crwys yr eglwysydd, Teivi, clod Davydd ; 
Tri hae), mal tri hydd, yn saint ynn y sydd ; 
Rhydderch ben rhoddydd ; Ivor, a Davydd. 20 

Tri dewrion llonydd, Geraint a Gweirydd ; 

O'r tridyn trydydd ydyw ev Davydd ; 

Tri serchawg dolydd a gawn un gynnydd ; 

Sev, Troilus, Ovydd, (deuvab) a Davydd. 24 

Deudir Tr dedwydd a dyv i'n dovydd ; 

Deulanw hyd lenydd, — Dy vi, gwin Davydd ; 

Dwywlad ardelydd, yn 11a w^n penllywydd, 

Dau mor ami aV dydd, — Dyvi, medd Davydd. 28 

Davydd ab Sion Diviau y cenais 

Pum can^ awdl o odlau ; 

A chan' cywydd, ddydd neu ddau, 

IV rhoi i'r gwr a v r wraig orau. 32 

Gorau merch a wisg aur a main, am win ; 

JVlerch Siancyn ab Owain ; 

Gorau dewr, o gwr Dwyrain, 

Yw gwr y verch gywir vain. 36 

Hir vo oes meinir, Iesu ! Amen; 

Hir o ddaioni yw chwaer Ddwynwen ; 

Hael yw Gwenllian, heulwen o Einion ; 

Hon yw gras gweinion Gwyr, Isgenen. 40 



17« Tri pheth ni ddervydd, three and David ab John. 

lasting things: namely, the church 29. Diviau =dydd Iau. 

cross, the river Teivi, and the praise 40. Hon yw gras gweinion, &c. 

of David ab John. Here the bard gives Gwenllian, cha- 

19. Tri hael, the three generous ritable as she might be, enough of 

ones : namely, Rhydderch, Ivor, and necessitous persons to relieve ; that is, 

David ab John. as many as inhabited from the south- 

21. Tri dewrion llonydd, the three ern sea coast of Gower, northward of 

valorous and quiet ones ; namely, the river Towy, an extent of about 

Geraint, Gweirydd, and David ab thirty miles. 

John. Isgenen = Is Cenen, a district in 

23. Tri serchawg, the three hu- Caermarthenshire, south of Llandeilo 

mourous men; namely, Troilus, Ovid, Vawr. 

i4 



120 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ond dedwydd i vardd bardd a vo hen 

Weled Nadolig digenvigen ; 

Wreigdda ; a gwrda, gwarden gwyr arva wg ; 

Ac yn alluawg, ac yn llawen ? 44 

Evo yn haelav dan furvaven ; 

Hithau sy orau dan y seren ; 

Yntau'n rhoi gynau, 'ra Gwynen I a gwleddau ; 

Hithau y gwyliau yn deg ei gwen. 48 

Davydd a'i gywydd o vrig awen, 

Heb haiach vocsach y w, ail Vacsen ; 

Ail yw Gwenllian Elen verch Eudav ; 

I lenwi'r gauav lyn o'r Gien. 52 

Geiriau a rov mewn ysgriven, 

Tra vo gwir, a thir, a llythyren ; 

Hyd y try obry wybren dros vryniau ; 

Hyd y bo geiriau mewn llyvrau lien. 56 

Tiriawg y w Davydd vai caterwen ; 

Tad Gwyr a'i synwyr, val glas onen ; 

Teyrn i gedyrn, gaden' ran iddo ; 

Teilo a'i noddo a'i winwydden. 60 



47. Gwynen, a female saint whose Eudav, or Octavius, son of Cara- 

history is not known. Llan Wynen, dog ab Bran. See Camb. Biog. 

in Cardiganshire, is dedicated to her. 52. llyn o'r Gien, a beverage from 

50. ail Vacsen = Maxen Wledig. Guienne : French wine. 

See Camb. Biog. Gien ■= Guienne : the province of 

51. Elen verch Eudav," Ellen, the Guienne in France, 
daughter of Eudav." Ellen married 59. #acfe?i'=gadawent. 
Maxen Wledig. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 121 

XXXVII. 

I HOPCYN AB SION. 



The bard addresses Hopkin ab John by first complimenting him on his 
princely mansion, which is said to be, in point of extent, like that of Derllys. 
He then compliments him on his hospitality, and on his means to support so 
large an establishment. He speaks of him as being a good performer on the 
harp— an excellent singer of Pennillion — and a lover of poetry. He also 
speaks of him as a person having great influence, and possessing extensive 
patrimony. 



Gorau llys ger Haw, o wydd, 

Es nawoes, yw'r Llys Newydd ; 

Llys Sion val Derllys, neu vwy ; 

Lie teyrn gerllaw Tawy. 4 

Llys Mawd i roi'r wirawd win, 

Lie ydy w'r ieirll o Edwin ; 

Llys ym mysg llysiau a medd, 

Llys gwin, lie seigiau unwedd. 8 

Hopcyn a ry'r llyn o'r llys, 

Ab Sion goron Hen Gyrys. 

Arver Hopcyn govyn gwin, 

A'i brynu val y brenin ; 12 

Canu telyn, Hopcyn hael, 

A'i chyweirio'n gloch urael ; 

Canu pennill, myn Cynin ! 

Can' gainc ; peri cywain gwin ; 16 



XXXVII. Addressed to Hopkin called, Yr Hen Gyrys o Ial, is sup- 

ab John, of Llys Newydd, on the posed to have flourished about the 

banks of the Tawy. middle of the 1 1th century. He was 

3. Derllys, or Cwrt Derllys, now one of those who collected the pro- 

a farm-house, about three miles to verbs and maxims of the ancient Bri- 

the north of the high road from Caer- tons ; and was also the composer of 

marthen to St. Clears. It is the pro- many himself. Hopkin ab John, it 

perty of James Williams, esq. of Ed- seems, was himself in this particular 

winsford. like him. 

10. Hen Gyrys, or as he is mostly 



m 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Govyn ynn ar gevn anerch, 
Achoedd Mai, a chywydd merch. 
Dwrn Hopcyn, yn y glyn glas, 
Yw un dwrn ar y deyrnas ; 
Unbys aur Hopcyn ab Sion 
A bwysa'r Pab a'i weision. 
Llyn oV gwinllanau i'r gwyr, 
Llaw Hopcyn oil a'i hebgyr ; 
Iddaw v'aeth dyweddi valch, 
Yn dda uvydd yn ddivalch ; 
Duw a'i rhoes i gadw ei rhan 
I wyr unwaith o Wernan. 
I Hopcyn, er hyn, y rhawg 
Ydd a gwledydd goludawg ; 
Gwlad Geredig, a Chadell ; 
Gwyr ; a sir Gaer y sy well. 
Iddaw y mae, arglwydd men, 
Daiar Llanbedr oil unben. 
Saint Cler, dan ei vaner vo, 
A swyddau Cemais iddo ; 
Bro Went, Morganwg o^i bron, 
Bro Wyr, ac Aber Aeron. 
Bid arglwydd ar bedeirgwlad, 
Bywyd iarll i vab ei dad ; 
Ei geraint i'm gwrantu i, 
Argoel oedd, sydd arglwyddi ; 
Rhain varchogion o'r bonedd, 
Rhai'n ieirll o'r rhei'ny, un wedd ; 



20 



24 



28 



32 



36 



40 



44 



28. Gweman= Gwernnant, Alder- 
brook Hall, in Cardiganshire. 

31. Gwlad Geredig, the land of 
Ceredig; Cardiganshire: swydd Gere- 
digion. Ceredig was the son of Cun- 
edda. He was instrumental, with his 
brothers, in dislodging the Irish from 
North Wales, in the middle of the 
fifth century. He had Tyno Coch 
for his services, and from him called 
Ceredigion. 

32. Sit Gaer — Caermarthenshire. 

33. arglwydd mew=mesne-lord; a 



lord of a manor that holds of a supe- 
rior lord. 

34. Llanbedr = Lampeter, in Car- 
diganshire. Now the seat of St. Da- 
vid's college, or Bangor Dewi. 

35. Saint Cler= Saint Clears, a 
village in Caermarthenshire. 

36. Cemais, a village in Montgo- 
meryshire. 

38. Aber Aeron, a small, but flou- 
rishing town on the sea- coast, in Car- 
diganshire. 




Y DOSPARTH I. 123 

JEthaVn ben ar Loegr es enyd, 

Rhai'n meddu ar Gjmmru i gyd. 

Can* hav bid Hopcyn ei hun 

Swyddawg o Ustus iddyn 1 ; 48 

Gorau un swyddawg ar Wyr 

Oedd Sion ol dda, a'i synwyr ; 

Ac o Wyr i Dre Garon 

Y bo swydd Hopcyn ab Sion ; b'l 

Ac yr wyv yn erchi Fr grog 

Roi oes Addav i'r swyddog. 

51. Tre Garon, a village in Cardiganshire. 



124 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXXVIII. 

I SION HAVART, O BONT WILYM. 



Havard is admired for his boldness in riding — for his valour — and his 
dexterity in parrying off the blows of an antagonist — and also for his supe- 
rior skill in the management of the spear, or the lance. His deeds, it is said, 
are celebrated in song, on the crooth, and on the harp ; with the flute, and 
on the organ. The bard, after this, indulges himself in a mystic strain, and 
relates that " when the spotted cat shall appear on the banks of the river 
Ieithon — and when the Irish shall have landed in the isle of Anglesea — and 
when there shall be a mighty struggle for the crown of England — then will 
Havard, as a warrior, have to act a conspicuous part, and be prominent in 
the scene of action." The bard then passes an encomium on the mansions 
of Havard ; and wishes the occupier to be well supplied with cavalry, and 
military guard. He concludes by alluding to the beautiful symmetry of 
Havard's countenance, and to the moral qualifications which adorned his 
mind and actions. 



Sion hyvedr ar varch, Sion Havart alawnt ; 
Sion ab Wilym Havart ; 
Sion hevyd wyr Sion Havart, 
Sion a dyr habrsiwn a dart. 

Sion Havart ieuanc ; Sion ! y vais win gwr 

Sy'n guras Einion Sais ; 

Sion ei honsel a welais, 

Sion yw ni wna dra, neu drais. 



XXXVIII. An ode addressed to History of Brecknockshire, vol. ii. 

John Havard, of Pont Wilym, near pp. 125 — 132. 

Brecknock. The Havards are de- Arms, argent a bull's head ca- 

scended from sir Walter Havard, of bossed between three mullets sable. 

Normandy, who accompanied Ber- Crest, a bull's head as on the arms, 

nard Newmarch. He had for his 4. Sion a dyr habrsiwn a dart, 

services the manor of Pont Wilym. " John will dexterously pierce with 

Pont Wilym, the mansion where the his dart the habergeon of his foe." 

Havards first settled, is now only a 6. Stfn guras Einion Sais: this 

farm-house, about one mile north- passage alludes to the Havards being 

ward of the priory of Brecknock, allied by marriage to the descendants 

See the family pedigree in Jones's of Einion Sais. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 125 

Pond Sion Absalon a roes ym roddion ? 

Pendragon llinon llym ; 

Pond da y gwreiddia mewn grym ? 

Pond da alarch Pont Wilym ? 12 

Pond Gwilyra oedd rym ei gledd sCi ron ? 

Pond ei rym Gwilym vu'n troi galon ? 

Pond arab ei vab wrth holl veibion byd ? 

Pond wrth ei wryd y troes hyd Sion ? 16 

Pa wraidd i Wilym, imp urddolion ? 

Pa imp a eurir ? pump o'i wyrion 

Pwy is y Banau'n hapusion hwyntau ? 

Pwy uwch y Banau, ond selau Sion ? 20 

Pob cerdd a genir yn deg dirion, 

Pob crwth a thelyn, Sulgwyn, i Sion ; 

Prydydd a'i gy wydd, val Gwion vychan, 

Pibau ac organ semiaiT i Sion. . 24 

Peredur ar ddur, wrth Iwerddon ; 

Pwy mwy biau dysg, ond pummeib Don ? 

Pond wythwyr vu'r gwyr gwirion wrth Gadell ? 

Pa wyth y sy well ? pa waeth yw Sion ? 28 

Pan ddel y gath vraith i Ian Ieithon ; 

Pan vo'r Gwyddelod yn margod Mon ; 

Pan vo ymguro am Goron wrawl ; 

Pan vo iso hawl penav yw Sion. 32 

Pwy y w'r haelav yn puraw holion ? 

Pwy yw rheolwr pob rhai haelion ? 

Pwy y w undyn gwyn ag union avael ? 

Pwy yw un-dis hael ? pwy onid Sion ? 36 



19. Banau = Caerbanau, now cor- 23. Gwion vychan, Gwion Bach, 

ruptly called Benni, situated on an the original name of Taliesin. 

eminence, about half a mile south- 36. un-dis, the luckiest throw upon 

east of the confluence of the Eskir the dice, 
into the Usk. 



126 LEWIS GLYN C0THI. 

Pawls y galwant plasau gloywon, 

Plasau'r Havardiaid unblaid y ddn' ; 

Pwy orau'n blasau cribleision wyneb, 

Palisau y Sieb ; ond plasau Sion ? 40 

Pedr ben borthor yr holl borthorion, 

Pyrth nev nis caii ev achos cyvion ; 

Pa rai gauai a gwywon wiail, 

Parth ar Deau, sail pyrth ar dai Sion ? 44 

Pedwarmarch, seithmarch wrth gyvrwy Sion ; 
Pedwarcant, seithgant dan vaner Sion ; 
Pedwargwart, seithgwart vo i Sion Havart, 
Pedwar gwayw, yswayw Pedrog, i Sion. 48 

Pryd Adda a Seth priodawdd Sion ; 

Pryd Ny v a Selyv a roed i Sion ; 

Pryd dau o Sande, i Sion, Bryd Angel ; 

Pryd Asa, a sel Paradwys i Sion. 52 

Pum llyvr Moesen sydd yn awen Sion ; 
Pum llawenydd Mair dros ungair Sion ; 
Pum oes byd sy oes i Sion, hyd orwyr ; 
PwyV pmnnyn a wyr pum"* synwyr Sion ? 56 

37. Powls, the old St. Paul's in head reached to the top of the ''spur. 

London : an epithet for a building, 48. Pedrog = Pedrogl, surnamed 

or mansion, of note. Paladrddellt, or of the shivered shaft, 

40. Palisau. This term, among who in the former part of his life was 

the Welsh, is applied to a pallisade a warrior, and afterwards betook him- 

kind of a partition between apart- self to a monastic life. He lived in 

ments. It was made of an inch the sixth century, 

board, and a two-inch board grooved 50. Nyv, a lady celebrated for her 

together, and placed alternately in a beauty, in the sixth century, 

perpendicular position. In old man- 51. Sandde Bryd Angel, Sandde 

sions a palis commonly separated the with the countenance of an angel, son 

kitchen from the bedchambers, or of Llywarch Hen, a chieftain who 

other rooms, on the ground floor, lived in the sixth century. Sandde 

The long oak kitchen table ran pa- was so beautiful that when he made 

rallel with the palis. There was his escape, at the battle of Camlan, 

what was called ''spur at each end of a passage was opened for him, without 

the palis, for to place upon it the a hostile hand being raised up, as every 

spare victuals; — Y spar ar ben y one imagined that he was an angel. 

''spur. It is said, in Wynn's history 52. Asa=Asav, a saint who lived 

of the Gwydir family, that when in the sixth century. See Camb. 

leuan ab Robert sat at table, his Biog. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 127 

XXXIX. 

I OVYN DWY VUWCH I DDWY WRAIG, O VAELIENYDD. 



The bard, it appears, wanted two milch cows ; and knowing that the 
awen possessed great power in eliciting a favour, he applied to the generosity 
of two wealthy ladies of Maelienydd. The name of one of them was Annes 
Awbrey, and the name of the other Isabella Vaughan. He mentions Annes 
as being a descendant of Grwalter Sais and Moreiddig Warwyn ; and Isabella 
as a descendant of Ivor Hael and Madock Tanner. The husband of Annes 
is stated to be Howell ab Rhydderch ; and Isabella's husband is represented 
to be John ab Philpot. The bard, reluctant to mention in plain language 
what he wanted, adopts a figurative style to describe the objects of his wish. 
He therefore solicits them to present him with two barrels ; not barrels made 
of wood ; but which had animal life in them, and could graze. He desires 
also that they may be, in colour, like that of Weobley ale ; that is, that the 
colour of the kine required should be of a fine nut-brown ale. He next 
speaks of the medicinal virtues of the drink which these barrels would afford 
him. And concludes by acknowledging the many and great obligations he 
was already indebted to them, and that he never appealed in vain to their 
generosity. 



Y ddwy wragedd rywiogach 

No dwy yn vy w ; a Duw yn vach. 

Annes Awbre ddiweniaith, 

Verch Morgan win 1 Ian ein iaith. 4 

Isabel verch Rhys uchelwaed, 

Vychan Is Mynydd, dydd daed. 

Da ydych, ddwy lywy'r wlad ! 

A da ydyw eich deudad. 8 

Uwch o bwnc hwdiwch y bel, 

Uwch dwy ach no choed uchel. 

E dyv, Annes ! dy vonedd 

O Awbre, mor bur a medd ; 12 

O Walker Sais, Rhosser hyn 5 

O geirw Moreiddig Warwyn. 



XXXIX. Addressed to two mar- cows as a present, 
ried ladies of Maelienydd, in Rad- 2. yn vach, a pledge ; a security, 

norshire, asking them for two milch 



128 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Dy ach, Is'bel ! uchel oedd, 

A'i lie uwch yr holl achoedd ; 16 

Ach o Ivor uchaviaeth, 

Ach o'r Tanwr, gwr nid gwaeth. 

Dwywlad, rhan eich hen dylwyth, 

Ydyw'ch dwy wlad, a'ch dau lwyth ; 20 

Dwy Ian Gwy hyd Vynwy vawr, 

A dwy Elvael adeilvawr. 

A'ch dau briod a ddodir, 

Ymlaen dau, hyd Emlyn dir ; 24 

Hywel rwydd, o hil Rydderch, 

Aed i Sion ab Philpot serch. 

Ni w'ravun un o'ch dau wr 

IVch urddaw bardd, a cherddwr ; 28 

Nid wyv i'n erchi i neb 

Da ; onid i'ch dau wyneb : 

Dwy varil val da Verwyn 

Heb lai liw no Gweble lyn ; 32 

Nid prenau valirau'r iaith, 

Barilau a bawr eiiwaith ; 

Ydd wyv yn ordeiniaw i'r ddwy 

Dy o wair a dau aerwy. 36 

Llyna ddwy winllan ddiwael, 

A'u llyn a vydd oil yn vael ; 

A'r llyn burwyn y bydd, 

Os gwyn ywV Gasgwin newydd. 40 

Ac yr oedd brig arwyddion 

Ar y ddwy, mal ar dda Mon ; 

Bwaau, yn gyrn bual, 

A noded yn eu dau dal. 44 

Wythdroed o'r unoed a red, - 

waith physig wyth fosed ; 

Cynneddv, i iachau canny n, 

Arall a oedd ar y llyn. 48 

31. da Verwyn = da Berwyn, that town, in Herefordshire. It was once 
is, squat, short-legged kine. Berwyn, much noted for the excellence of its 
the name of a range of mountains, ale. 

on the east of the vale of Edeyrnion, 46. wyth fosed ; here the eight 

in Merionethshire. streams which would flow from the 

32. Gweble, Weobley, a market eight udders. 



Y DOSPARTH I. 129 

Ni phair, cyn pryd Oferen, 

Na gwaew i'm pais, nag i'm pen ; 

Ni^m gwna'n vrwysg, dyn govrwysg gwar, 

Nag yn veddw, nag yn vyddar. 52 

Ev a dyn, pan wnelwyv daitb, 

Cr drem y benddar ymaith ; 

Evo a wella v'awen, 

Ac ydywV pwynt i gadw'r pen. 56 

Chwithai^ch dwy, petai vwy v'arch, 

O rywdda a rydd ddwyarch ; 

Genych tra dyvo gwinwydd, 

Gwin a gav o egin gwydd. 60 

Genyv, Is'bel ! ac Amies I 

Y mae'ch 11 yn a mwy o'ch lies ; 

I'wch eich dwy, cbwi a'ch deuwr, 

Oedran dwy o'r derw'n y dwr ; 64 

I'm y buch da'n ddiwahardd, 

I'wch y bo bendith eich bardd. 

53. Penddar =pendro, a vertigo, a giddiness in the head. 



130 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



TYLWYTH YSTRAD TYWI. 

THE VALE OF TOWY FAMILY. 

Urien Rheged=Margaret La Faye, daughter of Gwrlais, duke of Cornwal ; and 

| half-sister of king Arthur. Urien Rheged was Toparch of 

j Scotland, king of Gower, in Glamorganshire ; lord Iscenen, 

M or Cam y Wylhon, and Kidwelly, in Caermarthenshire ; and 

knight of the Round Table to king Arthur. He was the son 

Llywarch °f Cynvarch by Myvanwy, daughter of Brychan, lord of 

Brecknock. Cynvarch was the son of Meirchion Gul ab 

Rhiin Gwrwst Lledlwm ab Ceneu ab Coel Godebog, king of Britain. 

I See, in the Myv. Arch. vol. i. pp. 57-59, Taliesin's Poems to 

Seisyllt Urien Rheged. 

Gwrwared 

Cynaethwg 

Llywarch 

Einion 

Goronwy==Llewelydd, daughter of Einion Clud, lord of Elvael. Goronwy ab 
Einion was lord of Iscenen and Kidwelly. 



Rhys: 



■= Margaret, daughter and coheir to Griffith ab Cydrych, lord of 
Gwynvey. 



Elidir ==Gwladus, daughter of Philip ab Bach, lord of Ysgyrvraith. 



Sir Elidir Ddu= 



-Cecilia, daughter of Seisyllt, lord of Cantrev Selyv. Sir Elidir, 
otherwise Leonard, was the first of the family that assumed 
the name of Fitz Urien. 



Philip=Gwladus, daughter and coheir to Davydd Vras. 



Nicholas =Jonet, daughter of Griffith ab Llywelyn Voethus. 



Griffith ab Nichola 
Dosp. II. i. 



=Mably, daughter of Meredith ab Henry Donne, of Kidwelly. 
He was thrice married. 



Owain 
Dosp. II. 2. 

Thomas=Elizabeth, daughter of sir John Griffith, of Abermarlais. Sir John 
was a native of North Wales, and a descendant of Ednyved 
Vychan. 

Morgan David Henry Jenkin John Sir Rhys ab Thomas. 

Dos. II. 4,5. Dos. II. 6. Dos. II. 7. Dos. II. 8. Dos. II. 9. Dos. II. 10. 



G W A I T H 



LEWIS GLYN COTHL 



DOSPARTH II. 



TYLWYTH YSTRAD TYWL 



I. 

AWDL I GRUFYDD AB NICOLAS, O DRE NEWYDD. 



The bard undertakes to celebrate the praises of Griffith ab Nicholas in 
strains similar to those of Adda Vras, and the two Merlins. He mentions 

his descent from Urien Rheged — alludes to his mustering an armed force, 

speaks of the extensive influence which he possessed both in South and 
North Wales — and prays the whole nation to rally round his banner. He 
styles him the eagle of Caermarthen ; — and observes that had king Arthur 
been then living he would have joined his forces to those of the descendant of 
Elidir. 



VjrWIN 11a wn gwir a iawn, llyna'r gras a gawn 3 
Y gan vab Nicolas ; 



I. An ode addressed to Griffith ab 
Nicholas of Newton, near Llandeilo 
Vawr. Arms : argent, a chevron 
between three ravens sable. Griffith 
was an only son of Nicholas ab Philip, 
by Jonet, daughter of Llywelyn Vo- 
ethus. He was thrice married, and 
had a numerous issue by all his wives. 
His first wife was Mably, daughter 
of Meredith ab Henry Donne, of 
Kidwelly ; his second was a daughter 
of sir John Perrott, of Pembroke- 
shire; and his third Jane, daughter 
and coheir of Jenkin ab Rt?es ab Da- 
vid, of Gilvach Wen, Cardiganshire. 

Griffith ab Nicholas was possessed 



of great property, and maintained 
princely establishments. A cotem- 
porary bard addressing him, said; 
Saith gastell sy i'th gostiaw, 
A saith Lys y sy i'th law. 
That is : 

Thou hold'st seven palaces in thy 

hands, 
And castles seven with domain 
lands. Anon. 

He was a person of great power and 
influence, in his native country, in 
the reign of Henry VT., and was al- 
lied by marriage with some of the 
principal families both in North and 
South Wales. His biographer de- 

K 2 



132 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ei ddarogan hyd Wanas 
Ydd wyv ar ol Adda Vras. 

Adda vardd, a'r ddau Verddin, 
Iddo wyv heno vy hun ; 



scribes him as a man of " hott, firie, 
cholerrick spiritt; one whose coun- 
sells weare all in turbido, and there- 
fore naturallie fitlie composed and 
framed for the times :" and also as 
" verie wise, and infinitelie subtile 
and craftie, ambitiouse beyond mea- 
sure, of a busie stirring braine, which 
made manie to conjecture, that some 
greate matter hanged over his head." 
His hasty spirit, and violence of tem- 
per, frequently involved him in quar- 
rel with his powerful neighbours. 
He drew upon himself the enmity 
of Richard, duke of York, by with- 
holding from him a piece of land 
in the marches of Herefordshire, 
having peremptorily refused to obey 
the summons of the sheriffs to an- 
swer for his conduct. On another 
occasion he quarrelled, with more 
justice perhaps, with Jasper, earl of 
Pembroke, who had used his interest 
with the king, Henry VI, to supersede 
him in the command of the castle of 
Cilgerran, which Griffith had held for 
some time under the crown. He was 
besides at enmity with the duke of 
Buckingham, owing probably to some 
disputes about their territories, which 
in some places lay contiguous. 

Griffith had such a deep-rooted an- 
tipathy to the English generally, that 
he could not at first be prevailed 
upon to declare in favour of either of 
the two great parties, which at that 
time divided the nation. It so hap- 
pened, however, at last, owing to 
some depredations committed in the 
marches, which he was known to 
have countenanced, that he, together 
with one Philip ab Howel, was found 
guilty of felony, on an indictment 
preferred against him in the county 
of Salop. 

When he discovered the situation 
in which he was now placed, and 
at the same time knew what he was 
to expect in consequence of the in- 
dictment, he at once determined to 
break with the court ; and, as his 
first measure, he made his peace with 



the duke of York, who gladly ac- 
cepted his offer of assistance. 

The duke of York being shortly 
after defeated and slain at the battle 
of Wakefield, Griffith joined the forces 
of his son the earl of March at Glou- 
cester, with eight hundred chosen 
men well armed and provided. Hence 
the army proceeded for Mortimer 
Cross, Herefordshire, where they were 
met by the Lancastrian forces, under 
the command of Jasper, earl of Pem- 
broke. In the course of the engage- 
ment which ensued, Griffith received 
a mortal wound, and only lived long 
enough to be informed by his son 
Owain, that victory had declared in 
their favour. 

The battle at Mortimer Cross took 
place in the year 1461. The pre- 
sent ode was probably written shortly 
after Griffith's reconciliation with the 
duke of York. 

We cannot well conclude this no- 
tice of Griffith ab Nicholas without 
remarking that he was firmly at- 
tached to the Welsh nation ; and 
that to the Welsh bards he was the 
Maecenas of his day. He held an 
Eisteddvod at Caermarthen, of which 
he was the president ; and a lineal 
descendant of his, the present noble 
lord Dinevor, was, like him, the pre- 
sident of the Eisteddvod held in the 
same town, in the year 1823. 

Long have the lords of Dinevor 
Been favourites of the Celtic 
song; 

In war the leaders of the host, 

In peace their country's pride and 
boast, — 
Patrons of right, and foes to 
wrong. 
See a Biographical sketch of Griffith 
ab Nicholas in the Camb. Reg. vol. i. 
pp. 54-64. And also in the Rev. 
T. Rees's Topographical, &c. De- 
scription of South Wales. 

3. hyd Wanas, " as far as Gwanas." 
Gwanas is the flat between Bwlch 
Oerddrws and Cader Idris. Plwy 
Gwanas is now added to Dolgellau ; 



Y DOSPARTH II. 133 

Chwannog wyv ei ddarogan 

Gwr yn benaig o Urien ; 8 

Y gwr hwnw a garwn 

A dry gwyr gyda'r Goron. 

Coron yr haelion yw'r hydd o'r Deau, 

Dwyoes vo i Rufydd ; 12 

Ev a wna arvau newydd, 

Mewn rhod o'r mwnai y rhydd. 

Grufydd ev a rydd dair o vrain unlliw, 

A Hew gwyn i Owain ; 10 

Llawer mab a wisg lliain, 

Dan yr haul, yn dwyn y rhai'n. 

Y mae i rhai'n hyd y mdr hwnt 

1'r Cadben, a'r Lutenont; 20 

Mawr yw yn Nghymmru ei rent, 
Mwy yw iddo y meddiant. 

Ei veddiant val sant y sydd oV Deau 

I Dywyn Meirionydd; 24 

O Vynwy i Vevenydd, 

A vyno vo i Von vydd. 

Ni bydd, ac ni bu, dim well noV gwr du 

Y sy'n magu llu'n y gorllewin ; 23 



and Capel Gwanas has long since dis- 13. Ev a zona, &c. That is, he 

appeared. will enlist men for money. An allu- 

9. Y gwr hwnw, &c. " That man sion to Griffith ab Nicholas muster- 

we love who gains men over to be on ing an armed force previous to the 

the side of the crown;" that is, to battle at Mortimer Cross, 

advocate the rights of Richard, duke 15. Grufydd ev a rydd, &c. " Grif- 

of York ; and, after his death, those fith will present his son Owain with 

of his son Edward, earl of March, to three ravens of like colour, and also 

the throne of England. The above a white lion." This may allude to 

explanation appears necessary ; for Griffith presenting his son with a 

the duke of York, although he laid shield with his own arms emblazoned 

his claims to the crown, never en- upon it; and the royal lion for a 

joyed it ; and his son was not pro- crest. 

claimed king until after the battle of 25. Mevenydd, a comot of Cantrev 

Mortimer Cross. Canol, Caermarthenshire. 

x3 



134 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ni bu un benach ; na vu, a Duw yn vach I 
Na urddawl o'i ach mor ddilychwin. 

Evo o Waithvoed yw yr ail a roed, 

Rhoed Iesu ei oed megys Edwin ; 32 

Cenedl mewn cynnydd i'r gwr, val Gweirydd, 

Vynyw y sydd i Von, a sin. 

Mynu y tan y maent hwy, o Gaer i Ian Gwy ; 

A mwy o Gonwy i Lan Gynin ; 36 

Ev a aeth val udd ei enw ev, val Nudd, 

Grufydd o Vor Udd hyd ar Vreiddin. 

Ni ad ev o'i dy gamrent ar Gymmry, 

A hwy y pery hyny no'r bin ; 40 

Trevi a biau, daiar y Deau, 

A'i da, a'i thyrau, hyd Wytherin. 

Iddo ev ydd aeth ddwy arglwyddiaeth, 

Nid gwaeth no Dugiaeth lie caid ei win ; 44 

Arberth a erbyn, aralwg yw Emlyn, 

Hyn ato a dyn val Custenin. 

Ni ad hwn a'i wyr un lie o Lan Llyr 

1 Aber Ysgyr heb oresgyn ; 48 
Novies Dinevwr yni aeth yn wr, 

Val y gwnaeth Tewdwr, mewn twr meinin. 

Craf y dwg Grufydd ystdd nos a dydd, 

Val y bydd y gwydd yn dwyn y gwin ; 52 

33. Gweirydd, son of Owain, of repose, were conveyed to the Abbey of 

Glamorgan, a chieftain who was kill- Shrewsbury in, or about the year 1140. 
ed when fighting as an ally to Rhodri Gwytherin, a saint who lived in 

Mawr, in the year 873. the sixth century, was the son of St. 

36. Llan Gynin, in Caermarthen- Dingad, the patron saint of the church 

shire. at Llanymddyvri. 

42. hyd Wytherin, "as far as 45. Arberth, the town of Narberth, 

Gwytherin." Gwytherin is a parish in Pembrokeshire, 
near Llanrwst. Gwenvrewi, or St. 47. Llan Llyr, in Cardiganshire. 

Winifred, spent her last days at 48. Aber Ysgyr, a parish, in Breck- 

Gwytherin, and was buried there, nockshire, situated on the river Ysgyr 

Her bones, however, after 500 years' near its fall into the Usk. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 135 

Cywir a gwirion yw'r gwr i'r Goron, 

Cynghor vydd i hon ger bron brenin ; 

Ar ol Nicolas gwr a oedd mewn gras, 

Evo yw urddas sir Caervyrddin. 56 

Eryr Caervyrddin mae warant evo 

Vristo i Benvro bant 5 
Eiste, cael erestio cant ; 

Hyn vydd lieno'n ei veddiant. 60 

Meddiannus ac Ustus yw o ddwy-Went 

1 dy Ddewi Mynyw ; 
Brawdwr gwlad Gamber ydyw 

Yn rhoi barn ar y rhai byw. 64 

Be byw yn Neheubarth heddyw Arthur 

Val y bu, a'r llu llawer ; 

Ev a alwai ei vilwyr ; 

Yn blaid i vab Elidir : 68 

A'i blaid ev yn Ninevwr 

111 dau a gais gwyllt a gwar. 

Gwyllt a gwar a gar, ni ddigerir awr 

Ar orwyr Elidir ; 72 

Arno mae pwys y ddwysir, 

Danaw y saiv deunaw sir. 

Sirig arian sy ragorau 

I'r sant gorau o'r saint geirwir ; 76 

Sel a tharian sy lwyth orau, 

A sias voreu i Sais a vwrir ; 

Sarf gwirodau, saiv ddevodau, 

Sy ammodau ni symudir ; 80 

Sant aelodau sul y Blodau 

Sydd aelodau swydd Elidir. 

Tiriawg ydoedd, tarw i gadau ; 

Tyr vwriadau trwy ei vrodir ; 84 

k 4 



136 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Tarian bydoedd, twrn heb wadau ; 

Teg ei radau, hwynt a gredh\ 

Tad caredig, tai rhwymedig, 

Tervynedig trev a nodir ; 88 

Teyrn gweledig, trev gadwedig, 

Twr cauedig, traw y eedwir. 

Miragl solas mawrglos Eli, 

Mab i Veli'n mhawb a volir ; 92 

Mur Nicolas^ yn marn Celi ; 

Y mor heli lie Tn rheolir. 

Mab darogan, mwyV annogan', 

Yw Mynogan o manegir ; 96 

Mai lie llogan, medd dysgogan, 

Mur diogan mawr y dygir. 

Gwirdda adain gair a ddVedai, 

Ac a redai dros bob grodir ; 100 

Gwr goradain gwir a gredai, 

Gwir a dd'wedai garw y ddeudir ; 

Gwin drwy'r Veri, glyn Mieri, 

Gwyr i beri'r gwyr a burir : 104 

Gwen Eleri gwlad Pryderi, 

Yw gwraidd deri gwrdd o dirir. 



Diriai Liwlad, blaid i'r Lili, 

Ei dwr Fili draw o faelir ; 108 






92. Mab i Veli, " a son of Beli," lived about the middle of the fifth 

here a term of compliment to Griffith century, and was the mother of 

ab Nicholas. Beli, that is, Beli the Sandde, the father of St. David, 

great, the 64th king of Britain. He gwlad Pryderi, " the land of Dy- 

was the son of Manogan, and the fa- ved." Pryderi was the son of Pwyll 

ther of the celebrated Caswallon. Pen Anwn, and a chieftain of Dyved. 

103. Veri=j Veri=Llan y Veri. See Camb. Biog. 

Ferry side, a village situated about 107. Liwlad = Eli wlod. A term of 

eight miles from Caermarthen, on the compliment. Eliwlod was the son of 

banks of the Towy in the parish of Madog ab Uthyr, and one of the 

St. Ishmael, in the hundred of Kid- three golden-tongued knights of the 

welly. court of Arthur. 

105. Gwen Eleri, " the smile of Lili, the lily. An allusion to the 

Eleri." Eleri, a female saint, was white rose, from its being lily white, 

one of the daughters of Brychan, and 108. Ei dwr Fili, Caerphilly castle, 

wife of Ceredig ab Cunedda. She in Glamorganshire. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 137 

Dar y wiw-wlad a drwy Wili 

Aed aur Hi ev a dreulir ; 

Dor meddiannus o Yscanus, 

Da moliannus od ymlynir ; 112 

Du meddiannus, un llwyddiannus, 

Du oedranus nis didrainir. 

Fr hael yn rhwydd y rhol yn rhydd, 

A set y sydd i'r sawl sy wir ; 1 16 

Er Sais drwy swydd, er sias dros wydd ; 

Ei swydd y sydd dros wydd y Sir : 

Un Iarll ni wnai yn ol a wnai ; 

Y dyn nid ai na'i dai, na'i dir ; 120 
Aed Iarll i'w dai am ael mis Mai, 

Y gwin a gai, ac iawn a gwir. 



121. am ael Mai, " in, or about, Cymmru, a Cywydd, by GAvilym 
the month of May." Ieuan Hen, addresed to Griffith ab 

There is, in Gorchestion Beirdd Nicholas. 






138 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



II. 



I OWAIN AB GRUFYDD AB NICOLAS, O GYDWELY. 



This poem seems to have been addressed to Owain on his being appointed 
governor of Kidwelly Castle ; for the bard alludes to his having been in- 
vested with the insignia of office, and calls him the captain of Kidwelly. 
He also wishes him a long life to discharge the important duties imposed 
upon him by his exalted station. He mentions his impartiality in the 
administration of justice ; and says that under his government, neither the 
lawless would escape his vigilance, nor the weak suffer from the hands 
of the oppressor. The bard after this takes occasion to record O wain's 
kindness to him in supplying him with the means of support whilst in con- 
cealment ; and mentions him as still being the same kind friend to him. 
He next tells us how splendid an establishment Owain kept, and what hearty 
welcome he gave his visitors ; and concludes in language highly compli- 
mentary to his hero. 



Iarll hir voV Hew o Urien, 
A Hew o hil yr ieirll hen ; 
Owain dymhyr maen diemwnt, 
Ivor Hael Dinevwr hwnt. 



II. Addressed to Owain, son of 
Griffith ab Nicholas, of Kidwelly. 

Owain was the second son of Grif- 
fith ab Nicholas, and he " had much 
of his father's craft and subtiltie in 
him ; he was bold besides and active ; 
an excellent artisan in discovering 
men's secrets, and observing their dis- 
positions." 

The article, from which the above 
has been extracted, appears in the 
Camb. Reg. vol. i. p. 60. The writer 
presents us with an interesting anec- 
dote about Owain, when lord Whit- 
ney, (the subject of the ode Dosp. 1. 9.) 
with some others, was commissioned 
to go into the principality to arrest 
Griffith ab Nicholas. When the 
commissioners arrived at Newton, 
Owain was deputed by his father to 
find out the object of their journey, — 
a circumstance of which Griffith, it 
seems, was not before aware. The 
commissioners, however, had not 
been there long before Owain dis- 
covered upon what errand they were 
come. After remaining at New- 



ton that night, they, on the fol- 
lowing day, arrived at Caermarthen 
with the intention of there arresting 
Griffith ab Nicholas. When there, 
lord Whitney sent for the mayor 
and sheriffs of the town ; and after 
shewing them his commission, de- 
manded their assistance in the ar- 
rest ; which it was agreed should be 
done the next morning. Owain, 
however, was not inactive on this 
occasion. His attention to the com- 
missioners was unremitting ; and, ob- 
serving that lord Whitney had heed- 
lessly put the commission into the 
sleeves of his cloak, he took care, dur- 
ing supper, " to ply his guests plenti- 
fully with liquor ; and having suc- 
ceeded in inebriating them, possessed 
himself unobserved and without dif- 
ficulty of this important document." 
The commissioners, being thus de- 
prived of their power, returned to 
court without executing their com- 
mission, and nothing more was heard 
of them. 






Y DOSPARTH II. 139 

lawn cael ar wyr Nicolas 

Yr aerwy braisg o'r aur bras ; 

Dalied Cadben Cydwely 

Deiroes mewn aur drosom ni. 8 

Mastr Owain oV mwstr reial, 

Meistr vo o Westmistr i'r Val ; 

Ni ad ev, yn mlaen dwyvil, 

Dreisiaw gwan, na'i droi is gil. 12 

Vo eirch i'r anghyvarchwr 

Oddeu'r varn gadarn val gwr ; 

Rhoi cyvraith berfaith Tr beilch ? 

Rhoi devawd i'r rbai diveilch. 16* 

A mi'n nhiredd Gwynedd gynt 

Yn herwa yno hirhynt ; 

Owain i gadw vy einioes, 

Ei aur a'i win ym a roes ; 20 

A heddiw'n mhob lliw, nid llai, 

Ym o winoedd a mwnai ; 

Wythryw win, eithr ei ranu> 

Y sy'n ei lys wen i hi. 24 

Tri bwtler, sewer y sydd, 

Tri cbog, panter, a chigydd ; 

Dau gyrvydd, pobydd gwaitb per ; 

Dwyswydd, ystiward, usier. 2& 

Pob swyddog sy i'r marcbog mawr 

Deau pertbig, onid porthawr. 

Ni weled o'r maen bedydd, 

Henw sy well noV hwn sydd ; • 32 

It was shortly after this affair that had taken in the politics of the day. 

the indictment for felony was pre- 26. panter, a pantler ; a pantry 

ferred against Griffith ab Nicholas in keeper. 

the county of Salop, as mentioned in 29-30. marchawg mawr Deau 

the note to the ode, Dosp. II. 1. perthig, " a Dimetian knight." 

10. Val, the Vale Royal, or golden 30. onid porthawr, " except a por- 

Vale, in Herefordshire. ter." The bard states here that 

18. Yn herwa, " the being in con- Owain had servants of every descrip- 

cealment." Herwa, to fly from place tion except a porter. His meaning 

to place ; to wander. The bard here must be that Owain kept no porter 

alludes to his being obliged to conceal to shut out, or exclude, visitors, 

himself on account of what he had 31. maen foG^ofa?=bedyddvaen, a 

written, or for some active part he baptismal font. 






140 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Henwau a roed hen ar wyr, 

A hyn mal henwau milwyr ; 

Ban y rhoed bob un oV rhai'n, 

O dy Dduw ydoedd Ovvain. 36 

Cri Owain Rodri lle'r oedd 

Aeth ei ovn i eithavoedd ; 

Owain y Glyn hen a'i gledd, 

Owain Nic'las a'i nawcledd ; 40 

Owain Gwynedd, llin Gynan, 

Owain vraisg ewin y vran ; 

Ail i Owain Gyveiliawg 

Yw Owain ddydd gwyr Llan Ddawg ; 44 

Owain hen, a'm Mhapen hir, 

Vu wndawd o Ruveindir ; 

Owain, pab Rhuvain priveirdd, 

Owain o ben bryn y beirdd ; 48 

Bwriodd Owain ab Urien 

Y tri thwr yn Nghattraeth hen. 

Ovnodd arthur val goddaith, 

Owain, ei vrain a'i fon vraith ; 52 

Owain, deyrn y Deau, 

Ovned o ieirll vwy no dau ; 

Owain Rafael hen Rufydd 

A eilw y gwr hael o gudd ; 56 

Na sonier am yr eryr, 

Nag am wadd, nag am ei wyr ; 

Nag am lew, nag am ei lain, 

Na dim mwy ond am Owain. 60 



39. Owain y Glyn, Owain Glyn- equal to the pope in his conclave. 
dwr. 50. yn Nghattraeth hen, an allu- 

45. Owain hen, &c. " Owain the sion to the battle of Cattraeth. See 

sage, and my chief pope ;" that is, Aneurin's poem. 
Owain was esteemed by the bards 






Y DOSPARTH II. 



141 



III. 

I DDAVYDD GOCH. 



The bard, after tracing the pedigree of David Gough through nineteen 
generations, up to JRhodri the Great, observes that he had been calculating 
the good fortune that was to happen to him, namely, that he should soon be 
possessed of a splendid castle, a mansion, and a barony. He then says that, 
as a bard, he was to David Gough what Taliesin was to Elfin ; and Adda 
Vras to Llywelyn. He also compares himself, with respect to his power of 
divination, to the poet Meigant, and Merlin Ambrosius. In the next place, 
following the example of Iolo, who was bard to Rhydderch the Generous, 
he enjoins upon David Gough the necessity of his not divulging his plans for 
action ; and bids him prepare for the day of conflict with caution and dis- 
cretion. He also advises him, that, when the time was come which would 
require his exertions, he should be quick in designing and mighty in executing 
his plans. He assigns to his hero the arms of Llywarch ab Bran, and looks 
forward to the time when he should be created baron. 



Breiniawl wyt o'r barwnwaed, 
Barwn Ystepltwn nos daed ; 



III. Addressed to David Gough, 
of Stepleton Castle. His arms (see 
lines 57-02) were the same as those 
of Llywarch ab Bran ; namely, ar- 
gent, a chevron sable between three 
choughs with ermine in their beaks, 
proper. In addition to the above, 
the bard allows him a lion. Da- 
vid Gough may have, perhaps, borne 
a lion for a crest over the shield of 
his tribe. 

Davydd Goch (otherwise David 
Gough) is supposed by a writer in 
the Cambrian Register (vol. i. p. 68.) 
to have been a near kinsman of Mat- 
thew Gough, who was " a famous 
warrior in the times of Henry V. 
and Henry VI., and slain in the civil 
tumult raised by Jack Cade," when 
a detachment of the king's army 
under sir Humphrey Stafford was 
wholly cut to pieces by the rebels in 
the year 1451. The cognominal addi- 
tions, however, of Goch, Llwyd, 
Gwyn, &c. in those days, afford no 
proof of relationship ; for the assump- 



tion of such epithets was entirely ar- 
bitrary. Permanent surnames, such 
as Mostyn, Glynn, Wynn, Lloyd, 
Vaughan, Pryce, &c. did not come 
into use until in the following cen- 
tury. 

David Gough, the hero of this 
poem, was a celebrated swordsman. 
It was the aim of the bard, in which 
it appears he succeeded, to excite him 
to act on the Lancastrian side. The 
majority of the Welsh people were 
Lancastrians at heart, owing to 
Henry, earl of Richmond, and Jas- 
per Tudor, earl of Pembroke, who 
were their countrymen, being nearly 
allied to the reigning monarch, 
Henry VI. Several of the Welsh, 
however, were Yorkists ; for in the 
person of Richard, duke of Glouces- 
ter, and afterwards in that of his son 
Edward, earl of March, they recog- 
nised the descendants of Gwladus 
Ddu, daughter of Llywelyn ab Ior- 
werth, the most puissant of their na- 
tive princes. For of the house of York 



142 



LEWIS GLYK COTHI. 



Davydd Goch, Duw vydd o gylch, 

A dau Iago yn d'ogylch ; 

Mab wyt i roi ym y budd, 

Wyr Adam o Varedydd : 

Ab Madog al ymogawr ; 

Ab Adam walch y byd raawr, 

Ab Rhys oedd Bwmparis hael ; 

Ab Ivor by w ei avael ; 

Ab Grufydd a'r meirch rhuddell, 

Ab Ieuan wyt, heb un well ; 

Ab Ivor puror gwin per, 

Ab Phylip aV pump Folwer ; 

Ab Einion galon glan Gwy, 

O ach cenedl uwch Conwy ; 



16 



were the Salisburys of Denbighland 
and Meirioneth. But to return to 
the subject of the present poem. 

David Gough, having made him- 
self master of the castle of Llanvi- 
hangel, commonly called Castell y 
Bery, situated on the western skirt 
of Cader Idris, had frequent oppor- 
tunities afforded him, of which he, 
together with his followers, availed 
himself, of sallying forth from this 
fortress to annoy the Yorkists. The 
latter were at last compelled to apply 
for aid. To check therefore " Coch 
of Pennant" (as the hero of this 
poem was called) in his marauding 
excursions, Herbert, earl of Pem- 
broke, sent a select troop of his men 
from South Wales, under the com- 
mand of Thomas ab Griffith ab Ni- 
cholas, who was esteemed a most ex- 
pert manager of steed, sword, and 
lance, having in his youth exer- 
cised himself in the use of them, 
in the service, and at the court 
of Philip the Good, duke of Bur- 
gundy. The two rival chieftains met 
near the village of Pennal, in Mei- 
rionethshire. The spot where they 
met is called, in history, " Pennal 
Field." The chiefs soon singled 
each other out ; and after a dreadful 
struggle, David Gough fell before 
Thomas ab Griffith. On the fall of 
their leader the followers of David 
Gough dispersed. And Thomas ab 
Griffith, fatigued by the conflict, re- 
tired to an adjoining field : and while 



he laid himself on his face on the 
grass to breathe, he was killed by the 
spear of a Lancastrian, who followed 
him. His corpse was conveyed to 
Aberdovey, and from thence by sea 
to Bardsey island, where he was bu- 
ried among the " eleven thousand 
saints." On the field, where he ex- 
pired, a cenotaph consisting of stones 
and sods was erected, which is still 
extant covered with stunted oaks. 
It is in the next field but one, on 
the right hand, after passing Pen- 
nal bridge on the road towards A- 
berdovey. The field next to this, 
situated towards the west, and con- 
taining about nine acres of land, 
was the field of battle. Opposite, on 
the south of the road, is another tu- 
mulus, larger and more ancient, com- 
posed of artificial ground, and now 
covered with full grown Scotch pine. 
Of this tumulus nothing is known. 
They are both on the Talgarth estate, 
the property of Ch. Tho. Thrustan, 
esq. R. N. 

Each of the Pennal chieftains was 
an ancestor to a peer of the present 
day — Thomas ab Griffith to lord Di- 
nevor ; and David Goch to lord Ra- 
nelagh. 

2. Ystepltwn, Stepleton castle, near 
Presteigne, Radnorshire. 

4. dau Iago, "the two James's." 
St. James the greater ; and St. James 
the less. 

9. Piumparis ^ Pomme Paradise, 
the John apple. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 



143 






Ab Llywarch barch hyd y bedd, 
Ab Bran, emprwr o Wynedd ; 
Ab Dinawal o'r dalaith, 
Ab Einydd iarll ban oedd iaith ; 
Ab Aelaw'n Aberfraw bu, 
Ab Alasar heb lysu ; 
Ab Tudwal, mal gwyr Maelawr, 
O dir Mon ab Rhodri Mawr ; 
O'r bonedd uchav, Ddavydd ! 
Impyn wyd un gamp a Nudd ; 
Gorau un ei betigryw 
Wyd o Von i wlad Vynyw. 



20 



24 



28 



A mi oddiar Gymaron 

Yn dy dy vry ar y Vron ; 

Calcio bum, wrth y doc bach, 

Dy oriau a'th bedeirach ; 

Daroganais Sais heb swydd, 

A chaer eglur i'wch arglwydd ; 

A thwr teg, a thai i'r tau, 

A barwniaeth a breiniau. 

Taliesin i Elfin wyv 

Ft Davydd val y tyvwyv ; 

Mal Adda Vras o dalaith 

Llywelyn erchwyn ein iaith ; 

Mal Meigant pan gant a i gyrn, 

Araith dda i Wrtheyrn ; 

Mal Merddin, pan ddevvinwyv, 

Emrys yn y Mars a wyv. 

Dwy wyl y dywed Iolo 

Oedd vardd i'w arglwydd evo, 

" Da daint rhag tavawd, daw dydd, 

Yn nghilvach savn anghelvydd ;" 



32 



36 



4Q 



44 



48 



19. Dinawal— Dyvnwal. 
21 Aberfraw, in Anglesea, for- 
lerly the seat of the princes of North 
Wales, and spot where one of the 
iree courts of justice for the prin- 
cipality was holden. 
22. Alasar=Aher. 
29, Cymaro?i= Castell Cymaron, in 



Radnorshire. 

41. Meigant, a saint and a poet, 
lived in the latter part of the fifth, 
and the beginning of the sixth cen- 
tury. 

44. Mars, the marches, or borders 
of Wales. 



144 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Da daint rhag tavawd a dau, 
Am a wnawn a'm min innau. 
Bydd arav Davydd y dawn, 
Bydd goviawdr^ a bydd gyviawn ; 
Bydd ddystaw a gwna lawer, 
Brysia i bawb i roi ""sper. 
Dyrchav dy vaner Davydd ! 
Er Mair dwg i Gymmry'r dydd ; 
A Hew, a thair bran Llywarch 
Ab Bran, i bob rhai yn barch. 
Maes arian sy'th deirbran di, 
Cwpl du val capel Dewi ; 
Breiniawl oedd dy hynawl hyn, 
Y braint oedd dair bran tyddyn. 
Mwya' adar a garyt 
Adar y brain gydaV brut ; 
Da ydyw yt, nid wyd waeth, 
I dair bran droi barwniaeth ; 
Barwn adar brain ydwyd, 
A iarll hen vy^ch o wr 11 wyd. 



52 



56 



60 



64 



68 



57. Llywarch ab Bran, a chieftain of the fifteen tribes of North Wales, 
of Denbighshire, who lived in the The following is the pedigree of 

reign of David ab Owain Gwynedd, David Goch, or Gough, as given by 

about 1170. He was the stock of one the bard in the above poem : 



Rhodri Mawr 

I 
Tudwal Glof 

I 
Alser 

Aelaw 

I 
Eunj^dd 

Tudwal 

I 
Dyvnwal 



-Bran 

I 
Llywarch 

Einion 

Philip 

Ivor 

I 
Ieuan 

I 
Grufydd 



— Ivor 

I 

I Rhys 

Adam 

! I 

Madog 

I 
Maredydd 

Davydd Goch. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 



145 



IV. 



CYWYDD I MORGAN AB THOMAS AB GRUFYDD 
AB NICOLAS, O ABER MARLAIS. 



The fame of Morgan ab Thomas, of Abermarlais, is mentioned as being 
spread far and wide among the English nation, which, it is said, stood in 
similar dread of him as once it did of Owain Glyndwr's army. The bard 
alludes to a report of some hot encounter that occurred between his hero and 
the English. The English are said to be always given to skirmishing ; but, 
at the same time, it is said that their movements were never unobserved by 
the sons of Thomas ab Griffith. Morgan was distinguished in the conflict 
by the largeness of his shield. In comparison of which, it is said, other 
shields were but small. And in allusion to his armorial bearings, the bard 
says, that his ravens would hover over London, and throughout England. 
He calls him the champion, and the eagle, of Griffith ab Nicholas ; and then, 
he says, when seven languages, that is, when the enemy from various quar- 
ters shall arrive, like a wave, at Ieithon, Morgan with his banners will also 
be there ; and the English to a man will be obliged to fight for the spoil. 
The bard, after this, enjoins upon Morgan not to give quarter ; and, at the 
same time, to remember the saying of Hen Gyrus of Ial, who said that " dis- 
cretion is better than gold." He recommends him also to conciliate the men 
of South Wales, in order that they, in conjunction with his brothers, might 
come to his support whenever he stood in need of their assistance. And the 
poem concludes by preparing his mind for the scenes which awaited him. 



Mae digon o son gan Sais. 
Am Orlant Aber Marlais ; 



IV. Addressed to Morgan ab Tho- 
mas ab Griffith ab Nicholas, of Aber- 
marlais, Caermarthen shire. 

The biographer in the Cambrian 
Register (vol. i. p. 69.) makes the 
following contrast between the cha- 
racter of Morgan ab Thomas, and 
that of his brother David, the sub- 
ject of the sixth poem of the present 
Dosparth: " Morgan and David," 
he says, " Avere home-bredd men, far 
diffring from their father in the true 
temperature of their mindes. Mor- 
gan was the better man ; David the 
better souldier : Morgan I had rather 
have for my friend ; David I would 



more feare as an enemy. Morgan 
had more vertue in him, the other 
more strength and force : right Bru- 
tus and Cassius." 

Both brothers, it appears, took an 
active part in the wars of the time. 
Morgan, like his father, was a York- 
ist ; but David a staunch Lancas- 
trian. The following anecdote is re- 
corded of them: When, after the 
final battle at Tewkesbury, Jasper, 
earl of Pembroke, with his nephew 
the young earl of Richmond, the only 
surviving heir of the house of Lan- 
caster, had taken refuge in the castle 
of Pembroke, king Edward on hear- 
L 



146 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Maent hwy val myntai Owain, 

O vewn brut, yn ovni Brain. 4 

Mae'n darogan i'r vran vry 

Grasu wybr Lloegrvvys obry; 

Ni phaid Saxoniaid a'u sias, 

Nid diymyr plant Tomas. 8 

Morgan wrth y darian dau, 

Mewn trin, man yw tarianau ; 

Man wrth dy dair bran, a'u brys, 

Yw brain wyneb yr ynys ; 1 2 

Dy gigvrain dros Lundain Ian, 

Ac ar hyd Lloegr y hedan' ; 

Un ceiliog o Nicolas, 

A'i eryr wyt, mawr ei ras. )() 

Ban ddel saith iaith i Ieithon, 

O vlodau iarll, val y don ; 

Teirbran yt Vorgan a vydd, 

Grifwnt, Tomas ab Grufydd ; 20 

Tair saled cyvled a\i cad, 

Yntau'r llew^n mlaen tair lleuad, 

A'r Saison ddynion, bob ddau, 

A ymladdant am wleddau. 24 

Erom, Morgan ab Tomas ! 

Arhown ladd y rhai ni las. 

Gwarendaw, yn eu grwndwal, 

Gwersau Hen Gyrys o Ial ; 28 

Gwell pwyll, y mae'n gall y pen, 

Nog aur, benaig o Urien ! 

ing the news immediately dispatched 19 — 22. Teirbran, &c. The arms 
an order to Morgan to muster his of Morgan ab Thomas are here re- 
forces, and besiege the castle ; which presented as being quartered, but it is 
he did without delay. His brother difficult to say in what manner ; for 
David, alarmed at the perilous situa- the bard only alludes to three ravens, 
tion of the Lancastrian princes, col- a gryphon, three helmets, a lion, and 
lected his retainers, raised the siege, three crescents. 

and shipped both the earls at Tenby 27. Givarendaw =gorenda.wa. (gor- 

for the coast of France. Thus was en-taw), Attend; listen. Hence gwr- 

David the means of saving the life andaw, corruption of gorendaw, To 

of the future Henry the Seventh of listen; to hear. Endaw, To listen, 

England. or hearken ; to give attention, is fre- 

2. Orlant, the Orlando of Ro- quently used by the poets, 
mance. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 147 

Pwylla heddycha, bob ddau, 

O'r diwedd wyr y Deau ; 32 

A doen' hwyntau'r Deheuwyr 

I'th raid, pan vo waith ar wyr. 

A'th vroder a'u manerau, 

A'th vaner, cyn hanner hau, 36 

A welir hyd yn Nulyn, 

A hyd trwy Gent, i'r Twr Gwyn. 

O An wig i Verwig vane, 

Sy heol syr Rys ieuanc ; 40 

Ei orwyr wyt, ar ei ol, 

Yn hwyhau yr un heol ; 

Mae'n braf, o myni brivfordd, 

Morgan yt yn mrig y Nordd ; 44 

Mae'r bel, v'anwyl ! i'th ddwylaw, 

Mae'r fon o linon i'th law; 

Mae iti gosbi pob gwych, 

Ac hyd Von cadw a vynych ; 48 

Ac yr wyd yn dechreu gradd, 

Wrth y naw-wyr, i'th neuadd. 

Bid i'th gov, a bod wyth gant, 

Am Siarl a moesau Rolant ; 51 

A wnel ddim yn ol y ddau, 

Ev a'n wr a'i vanerau. 

Gwna dy ran Vorgan yn vwy 

No Sisar, neu hen Sioswy ; 56 

Na thor Morgan wneuthuriad 

Noddvaau, statuniau y Tad ; 

Na vyn gan undyn, hyd vedd, 

Air onid y wirionedd ; GO 

Na ad wenwyn yn d^nys, 

Nesaa i radd hen syr Rhys. 

37. hyd yn Nulyn, " as far as 40. syr Rhys ieuanc, here an 
Dublin." epithet of compliment to Morgan ab 

38. trwy Gent, " through the Thomas, as a descendant of sir Rhys 
county of Kent." ab Goronwy, whom the bard (in line 

39. O Anwig i Verwig vane, " from 62) wishes his hero to imitate. 
Alnwick castle to Berwick upon 58. statuniau = statutes. 
TVeed." 

l2 



148 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



V. 



CYWYDD ARALL I MORGAN AB THOMAS AB GRUFYDD 
AB NICOLAS, O ABER MARLAIS. 



The bard opens his poem by inquiring who were the noble vultures ? the 
loyal ravens ? the birds of courage ? the birds of the conflict ? He replies, 
alluding to the arms of Morgan ab Thomas, and says, the ravens of Thomas, 
of the family of Nicholas. Yes, Morgan, and his ravens, he says, will scour 
the Ross-land, and dislodge the enemy from thence. The bard, after saying 
thus much, wishes him success, and excites both South and North Wales to 
rally under the banner of Morgan. He then (lines 23, 24) describes Mor- 
gan's coat of arms, and alludes to some prophetic sayings which were afloat 
prognosticating every thing that was good to the family of Elidir. 



Pwy yw adar gwar Llwch Gwin ? 

Adar bran gydaV brenin ; 

Adar dewrion, drwy daraw, 

Adar y drin 5 bob dri, draw. 

Rhyw'r gigvran, mewn arian oedd, 

Yw'r cyw arutbr oV caeroedd ; 

Bran Domas o Nicolas nen, 

Bran a wyr, breiniau Urien ; 

Mastr Morgan, ev a'i vranos, 

A bair yn rhydd lwybrau'n Rhos. 

Eheded wlad Dyved hir, 

Wedi hedeg Deheudir ; 12 

Dwy Wynedd, hi a'i dynion, 

Dan ei dwy adain y don"' ; 

A phawb, o agos a pbel], 

Hyd yn Wysg dan ei asgell. 16 



V. Another poem addressed to 11. Dyved, Dimetia ; the county of 

Morgan ab Thomas of Aber Mar- Pembroke, according to Dr. Powel's 

lais. History of Cambria. 

10. Rhos, Cantrev y Rhos, a hun- 16. Wysg, the river Usk. 
dred in Pembrokeshire. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 149 

Myned, dan rym ei onen, 

Morgan Gwyr, Morgan wg wen. 

Ymchweled, ar ei ledol, 

I Ros, a'i wyr ar ei ol ; 20 

Bran o vab Urien yw vo, 

Bran oedd yn bwrw enw iddo ; 

Maes arian, tair cigvran caer, 

Cwpl du yn cwplau dwyaer. 24 

Anhap y Lleian o'r Llys 

A ddewiniodd o'i ynys ; 

Mai bran a barcutanod, 

I dreio rhwysg, a dry'r rhod. 28 

Eb dewin y breninoedd 

O'i ben gynt, (pwy bynag oedd 5 ) 

Bran ynn a dderbyn ryw ddydd 

Llaw yra mryn Hew Meirionydd . 32 

Eb yr Addav, val breuddwyd, 

Vras Hew am vwaau Rys llwyd ; 

Coed Elidir hir y rhawg, 

Coed a gedwir, cad goedawg, 36 

A geidw eu tir, hir cyn hau, 

Hyd trwy Von, a'u tervynau. 

Ar drimarch i Gynvarch gynt, 

Buan drimeib un dremynt ; 40 

Tri broder, pwy'r ddau eraill ? 

Aron, Hew Urien, y llaill. 

O Macsen, hil Urien lwyd, 

Dreva'n ddugiaid a rivwyd ; 44 

Y priv, onid ei rivaw, 

Y sy'n wyth ; oed Iesu, naw ; 
A rhwng naw, o daw i dir, 

A deg enw y digonir. 48 



23. Maes avian, &c. Arms : ar- brosius, who was the son of a Nun, 

gent, a chevron sable between three and reported to have been without a 

ravens proper. father. Tradition says that he was 

25. Anhap y Lleian, the misfor- a native of Caermarthen. 

tune of the nun, that is, a base child : 39. Cynvarch, son of Meirchion, 

here Merddin Emrys, or Merlin Am- and the father of Urien Rheged. 

l3 



150 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Pedwar, pump ; pwy ydyw'r pen ? 

Naw eryr, hvvnw Urien ; 

Naw diemwnt, rhivvvn Domas, 

Llyna riv yn llawn o ras ! 52 

Khiv Morgan, ban ar y byd, 

Rhiver ei vroder hevyd ; 

Ni wnel Mair, a Chynvelyn, 

Leihau rhiv y milvvyr hyn. 56 



55. Cynvelyn, a saint, son of Cunedda. He lived about the l>e- 
Bleiddyd ab Meirion ab Tibion ab ginning of the sixth century. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 



151 



VI. 



I DAVYDD AB THOMAS AB GRUFYDD AB NICOLAS. 






This poem opens by stating that " the strong and terrible one of the 
broken spear will cause dread to those who are guilty of wrong ; and that 
the fear of him had already spread far and wide." His valorous father 
is then mentioned as having been universally feared. The bard next 
alludes to the exploits which David ab Thomas had accomplished with 
his ashen spear. No one, he says, could encounter him with impunity. 
He then urges him to exert himself to check every lawless practice, and 
to insist upon the law being respected, that the aged and the defenceless 
might be protected. He alludes to David ab Thomas having taken a part 
in the civil turmoils of the day ; and prays him to stand a firm friend to 
the church. And telling him that he expected to hear shortly of his being 
knighted, and presented with the collar of SS, he gives a description of the 
splendid dress, all bespangled with gold, he should then have to wear. And 
he also tells him how richly caparisoned his charger would then be — with 
gold trappings, and a golden petrel ; and the saddle also, as well as the bridle, 
ornamented with gold. All this, he says, will well become him whose ances- 
tors were renowned for deeds of valour, and who had the honour of wearing 
the golden shoe. 



Y bwbach iach a'r gway w us, 
A yr b^v ar rai beius ; 



VI. Addressed to David ab Tho- 
mas ab Griffith ab Nicholas. 

Arms : argent, a chevron sable be- 
tween three ravens proper. 

David ab Thomas was nicknamed 
Davydd Cefyl cwta, or " David with 
the cropped tailed horse ;" a title 
which he received from the following 
ludicrous circumstance. A neighbour 
of his had a young horse, of which 
David, who was it seems an excellent 
judge, had so high an opinion, that 
he gave for him twenty-four cows, 
with pasture for them for one year, 
which, being considered a most ex- 
travagant price, exposed him to the 
ridicule of his acquaintances. As 
soon as he had completed his pur- 
chase, he cut off the horse's ears, slit 
his nostrils, and cropped his tail ; after 
which he branded the skin all over 
with a hot iron, impressing it with 






numberless hideous and fantastic 
forms. Some time subsequently, an 
opportunity was aiforded him of shew- 
ing his enemies, who had greatly 
amused themselves with his singular 
whim, of what metal his cropped 
horse was composed. Being beset 
and closely pursued as he approached 
the river, and perceiving his danger, 
he clapped spurs to his steed, and 
leaped across the stream to the oppo- 
site bank, and then turned round 
and tauntingly derided his pursuers 
for riding such cows, on which they 
dared not follow him. This is re- 
lated as a most extraordinary feat, 
and a poet of his time calls it " Naid 
ar march na neidir mwy," that is, a 
leap on horseback, which will never 
be leaped again. Rev. T. Rees's 
Topographical, &c. of South Wales. 
1. gwayw us, " a shivered spear." 

l4 



152 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Dy ovn a yraist, Davydd ! 

O Dy wi vro byd Vor Udd ; 4 

A Thomas Nicolas ban oedd, 

A wnaeth ovn yn eithavoedd. 

Ynnillodd d'onwayw wellwell 

Y tyrau pyrth, a'r tir pell ; 8 

Cestyll i sevyll dan sel, 

Caerydd, trevydd, trvvy ryvel. 

Ni bu Tth erbyn ddyn, a'i ddur 

Ar ei dal, heb roi dolur ; 12 

Un ni bo, ni alio neb, 

Trwy waith un yt wrthwyneb. 

Cevaist a vynaist o vyd, 

Cy voeth ti a'i cai hevyd ; 1 6 

Gwahardd anghyvraith weithion, 

GalwV gyvraith o'r hen iaith hon ; 

Gwna ei hawl dros y gwan hen, 

Gyr leidr o garl i wden. 20 

Tymhest Davydd ab Toraas 

Vu ar y byd yn vor bas. 

A, Davydd ! dy gledd deuvin, 

A'th wayw rhudd wnaeth yr hin ; 24 

A'th wyr a gymerth eraill 

Iti yn wyr, at y naill. 

Cymmhorth, er Elian Ceimiad, 

Eglwys Duw i gael y 'stdd; 28 

A dal y dyngedven genyd, 

A dyro bach drwy y byd. 

Yn varchog dy ddarogan 

Yr wyv, a'r aur ar y Vran ; 

Evo a roir ar dy vrig, 

Esau aur megys Warwig ; 

The epithet of a shivered spear ap- tury, to whom there is a church de- 
plied to a warrior was esteemed the dicated in Arvon, and another in 
highest possible compliment that could Anglesey, 
be paid him. 34. Esau aur, " a gold collar of 

3. Thomas Nicolas. Rather Tho- SS." This decoration appeared first 

mas ab Grufydd ab Nicolas. in the reign of Henry IV. and was 

27. Elian Ceimiad, a saint who worn by the distinguished of both 

lived about the close of the fifth cen- sexes. Numerous opinions, as to its 



Y DOSPARTH II. 153 

Aur trwm ar y war a'r traed, 

Aur a ddyly urddolwaed ; 36 

Aur ar dalcen dy benwn, 

Aur hyd y wasg ar dy wn ; 

Aur ar dalcen pen pob bys, 

Aur a drig ar dy wregys ; 40 

Aur ar dy gledd rhinweddog, 

Aur hyd dy glust ar dy glog ; 

Aur a oedd yt, rhyw ei ddwyn ; 

Aur a wisgi ar Wasgwyn. 44 

Ei wisg o aur val rhisg ia, 

Ei drapiad o aur opia ; 

Ei betrel o aur melyn, 

Aur o gy lch ei gyvrwy gwyn ; 48 

Ei frwyn, ei avwyn, o aur ; 

Ei war iddo o ruddaur. 

Gwisg Davydd, o'r dedwydd daid, 

Groesau ar ei gwrseriaid ; 52 

Arwedd eryr oV ddeuryw, 

Vlodau o'r aur val dy ry w ; 

Dy daid, a'th hendaid, a'th hyn, 

Yr esgid aur a wisgyn 1 . 56 

Syr Sion Grufydd y rhuddaur, 

Syr Rhys yr esau o'r aur ; 

Syr Davydd, bar onwydd brau, 

Uehod wythoes vych dithau. 60 

origin, have been offered ; but the or right, to bear it." 
most probable one is that offered by 44. Aur a wisgi, &c. " Thy Gas- 
sir Samuel R. Meyrick, (see Mirror, coigne" (that is, the cropped tailed) 
No. 681, p. 191), namely, that Hen- horse will wear gold, 
ry IVth's motto, whilst only earl of 46, 47- -Ei drapiad, &c. " His 
Derby, being Soveraine, he after- trappings will be of the gold of 
wards, when he became actual sove- Ophir; and his breastplate also of 
reign, thinking the initial of his motto gold. Petrel, a breastplate. Bailey's 
auspicious, had a collar made, the Diet. 

links of which were in the form of 5T. Syr Sion Grufydd, sir John 

SS. According to our bard's account Griffith, of Abermerlais, who was 

some of the collars were gold and David's grandfather by his mother's 

others silver. side. 
43. rhyw ei ddwyn, iC it is natural, 



154 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



VII. 



I HARRI AB THOMAS AB GRUFYDD AB NICOLAS, 
O LANYMDDYVRI. 



The bard compares Henry ab Thomas both to Henry III. and Henry II. 
in stature. His place of resideuce, he says, was at Llandovery. And he 
gives him the character of being a wise and a discreet person, and full of 
courage. He mentions his descent from Urien Rheged and also from Henry 
Donne. The descendants of Elidir, he says, will never be driven from South 
Wales; and although they have suffered in battle, in the civil conflicts, for 
eight summers, yet have they at last obtained justice on their side. The 
bard here gives instances of justice favouring the defenders of their right to 
the overthrow of the invaders. He calls Henry the shield of his country ; 
and alluding to the wall of Severus, he says that the sword of Henry was his 
country's wall. He concludes by mentioning the efficiency, and the prosper- 
ous state, of Henry's army, and its capability to check and repel the enemy. 



Mae un val Harri Mynwy, 

Neu Harri Ail, neu wr hwy ; 

Harris Llanymddyvri ddoeth, 

Harri trydydd hir tradoeth ; 4 

Harri ddewr hardd, o Urien, 

Un o hil Henri Dvvnn hen ; 

Harri ab To?nas, hirhynt, 

Ab Gmifydd vu'n gwinwydd gynt. S 

Ni yrir Elidir lin 

O ael Dean led ewin ; 

O chawsant gam yn nghammawn, 

Dan wyth hav, Duw a wnaeth iawn. 12 

Gwr a wnel drwg i arall, 

VVedi lladd arhoed y Hall. 



VII. Addressed to Henry ab Tho- " one of the family of Henry Donne." 

mas ab Griffith ab Nicholas, of Llan- Mably, the daughter of Meredith ab 

dovery. Henry Donne, was Henry ab Tho- 

G. Un o hil Henri Dwnn hen, mas's grandmother. See Pedigree. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 



155 



Hen Wrtheyrn G-wrthenau 

Vu'n Sir a'n tir, i'n bratau. 

Gwahawdd Saison, bob Ionor, 

I'r Deau maent ar hyd mor. 

Gwae a ddel i'r gwahawdd, 

Ac ni wn a gai un nawdd ; 

Merliwns o Aber Marlais 

A ry dwy sel ar iad Sais. 

Er hyn mae ar lasvryn lu, 

A brwydr, yn ei bwriadu. 

Maes a riaw 'sgarmes a wnan', 

Yntau Harri yw'n tarian. 

Bu ran, rhwng Deivr a Brynaich, 

Wrth wayw a bron, a nerth braich ; 

A Severus a vwriawdd 

Wrth wegil lore, drwy'r North, glawdd, 

A'r clawdd hir y w cledd Harri 

Drwy ystlys ein ynys ni. 

Yn Nhal-y-Sarn, i hely Sais, 

A'i ganlyn Ystrad Gynlais ; 

Yn ymwan nid rhaid nemawr 

Er cadw i'm oes Riw'r Coed mawr. 

*T? *?? *7? *gV' W ^V 



16 



20 



24 



28 



32 



36 



Liu Harri sydd, nid llai'r serch, 
Yn llenwi pen eu llanerch ; 



15. Hen Wrtheyrn Gwrthenau, 
&c. " Vortigern came of old into 
our country to betray us." Vortigern 
was the 82nd king of Britain, and 
reigned from about A.D. 448 to 464, 
when he was deposed. There is a 
district, in Radnorshire, called after 
his name Gwrtheyrnion. It was here 
that he retreated in disgust towards 
the close of his mischief-making ca- 
reer. 

25. , sgarmes, a skirmish : bicra. 

27. Deivr a Brynaich, the two 
grand divisions of the kingdom of the 
Brigantes ; afterwards called, by the 
Saxons, the kingdom of Northumber- 



land. " That part of it is called 
Deivr, or Deira," which lies nearest 
to us this side of the river Tyne, and 
Brynaich, or Bernicia, that which 
lies further on from the Tyne to the 
Frith of Edenborough ; both which 
parts had for some time kings of 
their own, but were at last united 
under one." Camden's Britannia, 
vol. iii. p. 2. 

29. A Severus, &c. An allusion 
to Severus's wall. See Myv. Arch, 
vol. ii. pp. 198, 199. 

34. Ystrad Gynlais, a parish and 
rectory in the hundred of Devynog, 
Brecknockshire. 



156 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Llu yn Llywel, pan ddelont, 

Lie mae bump llu am y bont. 40 

Ni ddaw dyn o'r Mynydd Du 

Byw o Loegr heb ei lygru. 

Ni ad Harri anturwyr, 

Na charl lore, nes no Cbaer Lyr ; 44 

Na Lloegr yn nes no Llugwy, 

Na gwyr y Mars i Gaer mwy. 

Mil sydd i Harri o vilwyr, 

Megys meibion llwydion Llyr ; 48 

Mil o vwaau, mil o veirch ; 

Miloedd a mwy o eleirch ; 

Mil o w?is, chwemil o wyr, 

Mwy lu dengmil o weywyr ■ 52 

Tri man, tair Human, tri llu, 

A bwysa'n wyneb Iesu. 

Trillu aent at y iarll hen, 

Teirwart i'r tarw o Urien ; 56 

Teiriaith vydd resgyw 'n iaith ni, 

Teiroes rhoed Duw i Harri. 



41. Mynydd Du, the Black Moun- Llugwy in Caernarvonshire ; and an- 

tain in Caermarthenshire. It is not other Llugwy in Merionethshire, 

far from Llywel in Brecknockshire. 46. Caer, probably Caervyrddin, 

44. Caer Lyr, Leicester. Caermarthen. 

45. Llugwy, used here, perhaps, 48. Llyr, king Lear, 
for the river Llug, in Radnorshire. 57. resgyw, a rescue. 
There is a mountain torrent called 



Y D0SPARTH II. 157 



VIII. 






I SIANCYN AB THOMAS AB GRUFYDD AB NICOLAS, 
I OVYN CURAS I GRUFYDD BASET. 



The bard compliments Jenkin ab Thomas on his being lineally descended 
from Urien Rheged. Alludes to his being related to the descendants of 
Gwaithvoed and Ednyved Vychan. And addressing him as a staunch de- 
fender of the rights of the Vale of Towy, and one that would accept neither 
favour nor service tendered to him by an Englishman, compliments him on 
his being a warrior as well as a descendant of warriors. He next alludes to 
the large store of arms Jenkin ab Thomas had by him. After having, in 
this manner, paved the way to gain the goodwill of his hero, he acquaints 
him of the principal object of the present poem, and that was to solicit of him 
a brigandine for his friend Griffith Basset. He concludes by giving a minute 
description of this piece of armour. 






Y nawved iarll Dinevwr, 

A rown, o gyf yr un gwr ; 

Siancyn, at iemyn Tomas, 

Syr Sior i gwnsiero sias ; 4 

Impyn tir Elidir Ian 

O Nicolas, gan 1 calan. 

Pont a maen i bob maenawr, 

Pummed troed o Waithvoed vawr. 8 

Mae'n wyr i synwyr Rhys hen, 

Mae'n orwyr mwyn i Urien ; 

Draig yw, a'i rym drwy y gred, 

Dinevwr o Ednyved. 12 

Ni ad gwympo, tra vo vyw, 

Dywi Ystrad, na'i dystryw ; 

Ac ni vyn Siancyn waith Sais ; 

Na gwanwynswydd gan hen-Sais; 16 



VIII. Addressed to Jenkin ab liciting of him a brigandine for one 
Thomas ab Griffith ab Nicholas, so- Griffith Basset. 



158 



LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Arvog yw wyr marchogion 
O arvau rhwym arver Rhdn. 

Baner, val llu o benwaig, 

Brigawndr aur val bwrw gwn draig ; 20 

gylch hael, val yn gloch hir, 

Yn hoelion, hwn a welir ; 

Yn guras Grufydd Based; 

Yn garegl aur 5 yn gaer gled. 24 

Gwell vydd, nog y sydd dan ser, 

Gyvundeb rhwng dau gevnder ; 

Rhwng eu dau gleddeu, 'mhen glan, 

Bu ammod o bai ymwan ; 28 

Ac o bai gad esgyb gynt, 

Yn bono na wahanynt. 

Siancyn, gwaith Llychlyn i'r Hall, 

A ry gaer rhag gwayw arall ; 32 

Mae'n ei wisg wythgant plisgyn, 

A'r plisg yn y wisg yn wyn. 

To sydd ar hyd dwyais hon, 

To teils, ty tew ei hoelion ; 3(3 

Pob lien oddiar len arall, 

Pob talcen lien ar y Hall. 

Da yw rhwym y bais dur hon, 

Draig o liw gwydrau gloewon ; 40 

Melved yw'r siaced dan syr, 

A'i llawr val esgyll eryr ; 

Pob asgell, val min ellyn, 

Ar y Hall, a'r lliw o wyn. 44 

Pais a'i gwaith val lamp ysgwar, 

Pleidiau megys plu adar : 



20. Brigawndr, a brigandine; an or that of (24. caregT) a chalice, 
armour with many plates and joints 31, 32. gwaith Llychlyn, " a bri- 
like a coat of mail. Bailey's Diet. gandine made of Swedish steel will 

The bard calls the brigandine, as afford a defence against the spear of 

well in the title of the poem, as also the foe." 

in the poem, a cuirass. 36. To teils, " a tile covering." 

21. yn gloch hir, " in the shape of The scales of the cuirass, or brigan- 
a bell." The brigandine resembles dine, are here compared to a roof 
in some measure the shape of a bell, covered with tiles. 



i, 



Y DOSPARTH II. 



159 



Pond tewV peithyndo newydd ? 
Pob peithyn vinvin a vydd ; 
Ymyl yn ymyl, bob naw, 
Deg wythwaith wedi eu gweithiaw, 
Melved ydyw'r ddwbled ddu, 
A dur hon wedi eu rbanu ; 
Pond da'r a, val paentioV N, 
Ar velved aur o Vwlen ; 
A bwrw oil, val briallu, 
Bols o dan ar balis du ? 
Dur y sydd newydd, bob naw, 
Deg wythwaith wedi' gweithiaw ; 
Drwy'r bais,, a'r dur o'r Basil, 
Ugain myrdd a chweugain rail. 
Drwy ben pob asen o'r bais 
Mil o emau a welais ; 
Trai Catur drwy y curas, 
Trwy bob gwregys mae sis As. 
Del sine o odlau Siancyn, 
A'r bais dur i'r Based wyn. 



48 



52 



56 



60 



64 



53. val paentid'r N. " Like the 
foi-m of an N." The outlines of every 
two plates in a brigandine are in the 
form of the letter N. 

63. Trai Catur = Triquetra, a tri- 
angle, or three-cornered figure. Bai- 
ley 's Diet. Every plate of a brigan- 
dine is of a triangular form. 

64. sis As, six aces ; that is, the six 
buttons. The brigandine is fastened 



round the body, like a waistcoat, by 
means of six buttons in the front. 

See an engraving of the brigan- 
dine in sir S. It. Meyrick's Ancient 
Armour. 

I Meyrick bid pob mawredd, 
Bywyd hir, a byd o hedd ; 
Mewn castell ni vu gwell gwr, 
Neu gywirach wladgarwr. 



160 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

IX. 

I SION AB THOMAS, O LANYMDDYVRI. 



The bard opens his poem in a very spirited manner, calling upon his bro- 
ther minstrels to accompany him forthwith to Landovery, to the mansion of 
John ab Thomas, in order to sing the praises of his hero, — a descendant of 
Nicholas, and of Elidir. He calls him the raven of Urien, and the protector 
of his country's rights. He mentions his brother, sir Rhys ab Thomas, as 
having been instrumental in placing Henry VII. on the throne. The bard 
then speaks of the loyalty, and extols the valour of John ab Thomas. After 
this, he alludes to the commission which was sent from court, to arrest 
Griffith ab Nicholas ; and says that John was not inactive on that occasion. 
He next enumerates the high offices which John ab Thomas held under 
government. The poem concludes by the bard referring to a prophetic song 
composed by one John of Normandy, a hermit, who had foretold the revolu- 
tions which took place in the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV, and 
Richard III, as well as the attempts made by Lambert Simnel, and Perkin 
Warbeck, to effect another under Henry VII. If, says he, it was their in- 
tention, and those of their partizans, to dethrone the king, they had nothing 
to expect, at the hands of sir Rhys, and his brother, but to suffer on the gal- 
lows for their traitorous temerity. 



Awn ; awn ; anant ein ynys ! 

Vry i Lanymddyvri lys ; 

I ganu val pylgeinwyr, 

I Sion ab Tomas a'i wyr. 4 

Ni maddau Sion medd y sydd, 

Yn wir way wfon hen Rufydd ; 

Rhyw Nic'las, dan guras gwyn ? 

Rhyw Elidir hir lwydwyn ; 8 

Ni bu gadben es enyd 

Hir well ei vodd, oV holl vyd ; 

Na; ni bu un wyneb well, 

Na'i gystal yn ei gastell. 12 



IX. Addressed to John ab Tho- 5. JVi maddau Sion, &c. " John 

mas, of Llandovery. will not spare the mead." 



Y DOSPARTH II. 161 

Ei vran ev a geidw'n devawd, 

Alluo vrain oil ei vrawd ; 

Bran Urien, bur a'n arail, 

Bran syr Rhys, ei Brim, yw'r ail ; Id 

Cadw, yn ol cadau, a wnaeth 

Brain hwnw ein brenhiniaeth ; 

Targed Harri seithved, Sion ! 

Trwy'r aer yw yntauV avvrhon ; 20 

Mawr vu hyd gwryd Garwy, 

Mae Sion vab Tom as yn vwy ; 

Gwrol vu vab Nicolas 

I yru gwae ar ei gas ; 24 

Sion ei wyr y sy'n ei ol, 

O ry w Urien, mor wrol ; 

Pan vu ymdrychu'n y drin 

Ar y Brain, hwy a'r brenin ; 28 

Ni bu Sion, aV ddwyvron ddur, 

Yn y saig yno segur. 

Syr Hywel yn rhyvelu, 

Velly'dd oedd, a'r Vwy all ddu ; 32 

Naill ai Sion yn ganllaw sydd, 

Ai'n glo adail ein gwledydd ; 

Maer yw Sion ar bumryw sel, 

A'i ringyll a^ aur angel. 36 

Yngnad ein dwywlad eilwaith, 

Canghellawr Cantrev Mawr maith ; 

15. Bran Urien, " the raven of not inactive ;" that is, when a com- 

Urien Rheged." For bearing of mission was sent to arrest Griffith ab 

which, and for assuming the name Nicholas, &c. See the account in 

of Fitz-Urien, Rice ab Thomas, Dosp. II. 2. note 4. 

grandson of sir Rhys ab Thomas, lost 31. Syr Hywel y Vwyall, " Howell 

his life in the reign of Henry VIII. of the battle-axe." He is said by the 

18. Brain hwnw, sev Brain syr Welsh bards to have commanded a 

Rhys ab Thomas yn mrwydr Bos- body of his countrymen as a corps 

worth. An allusion to the battle of de reserve, at the battle of Cressy, 

Bosworth-field, where the ravens of and by his seasonable advance, and 

sir Rhys ab Thomas led on to victory thundering incursion on the French 

and the establishment of Henry VII. lines, to have materially contributed 

upon the throne. to the acceleration of the victory. 

20. Trwy'r aer. In the battle. Camb. Reg. vol. i. p. 71- 

21. Garwy, son of Geraint ab Er- 38. Canghellawr Cantrev Mawr, 
bin, celebrated in the Welsh Triads. " Chancellor of Cantrev Mawr." 

27, 28. Pan vu ymdrychu, &c. Cantrev MaWr is a part of the 
" When there was a struggle between dutchy of Lancaster, now vested in 
the ravens and the king, John was the earl of Cawdor. 

M 



162 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Rhaglaw yw ev yn nhair gwlad, 
Dystain y Deau wastad. 
Ieuan Ermid o Norman t 
Yn ei gerdd ei him a gant ; 
Doi dinystr, wedi Ionawr, 
Pysgod man, y pysgod mawr; 
Y doi bryved mewn daiar, 
Llidia wg wrth y llewod gwar ; 
Doi adar man a wnan' nod 
Ar warau yr eryrod. 



40 



44 



48 



A'r oes y dechreuasant 

Yw'r hon y sy ar Harri sant ; 

Eilwart ar Edwart o Ron, 

Mwy ar Risiart vu'mryson ; 

Ar awr hon ar Harri hir, 

Ac ar fyn y gorphenir. 

Bryd Saison trymion, a^ trin. 

BriwoV Brain, bwrw'r brenin ; 

Bryd meirch a brawd y marchog, 

Eu briwo'n nghrwyn ; a'u bwrw'n nghrog. 

Yn lie Caswallon Llaw-Hir, 

Y rhoed Sion yn rhaid y Sir ; 

Y mae, heb ddim o awydd, 
Oes win i Sion a naw swydd ; 
Swyddau vyth sy iddaw vo, 
Yn swyddawg einioes iddo. 



52 



56 



60 



64 



41. Ermid , a hermit : meudwy. 

50. Harri sant, Henry VI. 

51. Edwart, Edward IV. 

52. Risiart, Richard III. 

53. Harri hir, Henry VII. 

55. Bryd Saison, &c. Allusions to 
Lambert SimneL Perkin Warbeck, 
and others of the disaffected. 



56. Briwo'r Brain, an allusion to 
the threats held out by the insurgents 
against sir Rhys ab Thomas and the 
entire family. 

58. Eu briwo'n nghrwyn, a threat 
synonymous with " mi a'i gwnav yn 
gregin yn ei groen." 



Y DOSPAETH II. 



X. 



MOLIANT SYR RHYS AB TOMAS, UN O GYNGHORIAID 

UCHAV BRENIN HARRI VII; AC I SIASPAR, 

DUG BEDFORD. 



" Blood like that which flowed of old through the veins of Griffith 
Maelawr is the life-soul of Henry VII, Jasper Tudor, and sir Rhys ab 
Thomas. It flows alike in each of them, and enjoins upon them duties of 
the highest responsibility. The British isle has now been entrusted to men 
of kindred blood, to Henry VII, Jasper Tudor, and sir Rhys ab Thomas. 
The former two are descended from Ednyved Vychan, and sir Rhys is re- 
lated to them by intermarriage. "Wherefore the Goronwys and the Griffiths 
side with the descendants of Ednyved Vychan. In consequence of which the 
offsprings of Rhodri the Great will have no longer any cause of alarm. And 
may the lineal descendants of the mighty three become the most powerful of 
any under heaven. Henry will maintain his right, — his uncle, Jasper Tu- 
dor, will defend us from harm, — and sir Rhys is our pledge for the prosperity 
of the Rose. May Christendom, in spite of infidel lands, become under the 
sway of the descendants of Tudor. The stars, as well as the prophetic songs, 
have long ago assigned this kingdom to Northwallians. For from Gwynedd 
it has been foretold — from the towers of Idwal has Heinyn, the bard, fore- 
told the overthrow of the Saxon monarchy." 

The above free translation may be regarded as the sum and substance of 
the former part of the present ode. The remaining part is taken up in praise 
of sir Rhys ab Thomas. 



Y mae yn cyd dilyd, ac nrm dawr hyny, 
Henwaed Grufydd Maelawr ; 



X. An ode in praise of sir Rhys ab 
Thomas, and of Jasper, duke of Bed- 
ford. Sir Rhys is regarded as the 
founder of the noble family of Dine- 
vor. The present lord Dinevor is 
lineally descended from him. See 
Collins and Debrett's Peerage. 

Sir Rhys ab Thomas was constable 
and lieutenant of Brecknock ; cham- 
berlain of Caermarthen and Cardi- 
gan ; seneschal and chancellor of 
Haverfordwest, Ross, and Buallt ; 
justiciary of South Wales, and go- 
vernor of all Wales ; knight ban- 
neret, and knight of the most ho- 
nourable order of the garter; a prime 



councillor to Henry VII, and a fa- 
vourite of Henry VIII. He was also 
lord of Carrew, Llansadwrn, Cilsant, 
Emlyn, Narberth, Llangybi, Weob- 
ley, Llandimor, and Nantglo. 

Sir Rhys married Eva, the daugh- 
ter and heiress of Henry ab Gwilym 
of Court Henry. He died in the year 
1527, at the age of seventy-six, and 
was buried in St. Peter's church, 
Caermarthen, where there is a monu- 
ment erected to his memory. See a 
biographical sketch of his life in the 
Camb. Reg. vol. i. p. 49, &c. 

1. yn cyd dilyd =yn cyd-ddilyn. 

M 2 



164 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Henri, a Siaspar gychwiawr, 

A syr Rhys mae'ii rhoi stars mawr. 4 

Stars yr unben o vrenin, 

Stars y dug Siors diogan ; 

Stars syr Rhys, stars ei rosyn ; 

Yw'r un stars i'r ynys hon. 8 

Yr ynys hon a ranwyd 

I wyr anwyl o'r unvvaed : 

O Oronwy ar unnaid, 

Yr hydd o Rufydd a roed. 12 

Goronwy, Grufydd gwyr o anian, plaid 

Plant Ednyved Vychan ; 

A'u mam oedd, eu Gwenllian, 

Wyr Tewdwr, ac nid gwr gwan. 16 

Ni bydd gwan weithian un wyth-awr, is allt, 

Esilltydd Rhodri Mawr ; 

Y rhai trechav, o'r trichawr, 

Vo eu llin rhwng nev a 11a wr. 20 

Ceidw gwawr nev a llawr a'r lied ei iawnran 

Henri vrenin seithved ; 

A'i ewythr rhag eniwed, 

A syr Rhys crair dros Ros cred. 24 



6. Stars, corruption of Siaspar— 18. Esilltydd Rhodri Mawr, " the 

Jasper. offspring of Rhodri the Great," that 

14. Plant Ednyved Vychan, " the is, Henry VII. See in the appendix 

offsprings of Ednyved Vychan :" — of Wynne's History of Wales, the 

namely, Henry VII, and Jasper Tu- pedigree of Owain Tudor, where it is 

dor, who were both descended from shewn how he is descended from Ed- 

Ednyved Vychan, the prime minister nyved Vychan, and also from Rhodri 

of prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. the Great, &c See also the pedigree 

Sir Rhys ab Thomas was related of the royal family in Mrs. Hall's 

to Henry VII, and also to Jasper Prize Essay, " On the advantage of 

Tudor ; for sir Rhys's mother was preserving the Welsh Language, and 

the daughter of sir John Griffith, of the costumes of Wales." 
Aber Marlais, who was a descendant 23. AH ewythr, " and his uncle." 

of Ednyved Vychan, — the ancestor of Jasper Tudor was uncle to Henry 

Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond. VII. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 165 

Aed creel, ac anghred a'u gwyr yn oribl, 

Dan orwyrion Tudur; 

A'r ynys hon rhan y syr, 

A'r gan 5 oedd i'r Gwyneddwyr. 28 

O dir Gwynedd y darogenid, 

O dyrau Idwal, y doi rydid ; 

Dywawd Heinyn vardd doe tyirid y Saison, 

Wedi un estron y dinystrid. 32 

Os geiriau o Von a 'sgrivenid, 
A gwr o Wynedd a goronid ; 
Ac o ryw emprwr, ac o Ririd Vlaidd, 

wraidd brenhiniaidd bran a henwid. 36 

Syr Rhys Nicolas a gavas govid, 
Ac a yw varchawg a gyverchid ; 
A'i vran a'i darian deiryd, lin o lin, 

1 Harri vrenin hir a vreinid. 40 

O aelwyd Mon val y damunid 

Y cad y ddwylin sy'n cyd ddilyd ; 

O'r hen wreichionen penrhwymid pob dadl ; 

Ar yr un anadl yr ennynid. 44 

A Hew du'n ami y llwdn a ymlid, 

Y milgi eilon mal y gwelid ; 

Ar y gog a'r dryw y gegid sy valch ; 

A* 1 !' eryr sy walch ar yr ysnid. 48 



30. O dyrau Idwal, " from the Tudor, earl of Richmond, who was 
towers of Idwal." Idwal ab Meirig, the son of Owain Tudor, of Pen- 
a prince who succeeded to the sove- mynydd, in Anglesey. 

reignty of Gwynedd, or North Wales, Owain Tudor married Catherine 

in the year 993. of France, the queen dowager, mo- 

31. Heinyn, the bard of Maelgwn ther of Henry VI. By whom he had 
Gwynedd, who flourished in the sixth two sons, namely, Edmund of Had- 
century. ham, earl of Richmond ; and Jasper 

" Didst thou hear the saying of of Hatfield, earl of Pembroke. Ed- 

Heinyn, mund of Hadham, earl of Richmond, 

The bard of the college of Llan- was the father of Henry VII. 

veithin : 47. y gegid, the bird called Wit - 

The brave is never cruel." wal. See Cegid in Dr. W. O. Pughe's 

41. O aelwyd Mon, "from Mona's Diet, 
hearth." An allusion to Edmund 

m3 



166 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

AV urddawl grasawl, a'i wayw yn llawn gwrid, 

Yw'r ddargadr a'r dderw a gedwid ; 

Eryr a breyr lie briwid bwyaill, 

A Hew ar eraill a oreurid. 52 

Yn gar iV vrenin y gwir vreinid, 

Ac iV deyrnas yn gadernid ; 

A'r Gogledd diredd a dorid, yn graf 

Vo ei dyrau praf, ev a'u dirprid. 56 

Aur am ei esgyll grym a wisgid, 

A dur a wisgodd hyd yr esgid ; 

Gyda'r Preins Arthur y gedid syr Rhys 

I gadw yr ynys pan gydranid. 60 

Vy eurawg varchawg a gyverchid, 

Vy urddawl grasawl ae a groesid ; 

Vo yr haelav, yr hav rhivid yn gyntav ; 

Vo yn ddiwaethav a vendithid. 64 

Vo a yr aliwns, yn ei vawrlid, 

I'r dwr o Loegr wedi hir lygrid ; 

Enaid Brutaniaid mewn tid aur a main ; 

Ni wn o Lundain un un lendid. 68 

Llyma'r vran sidan lie gosodid 5 

Llyma ry w geiliog lie mawr goelid ; 

Llyma ladd y wadd lle'dd oeddid yn drwch, 

Llyma hir heddwch, lie mawr haeddid. 72 

Llyma vaedd nawwaedd y gyvnewid, 

Llyma'r ych pengrych i ar pawb bid ; 

Llyma'r Saison lion a'u Hid yn methu ; 

Llyma holl Gymmru yn gwenu y gyd. 76 

59. Gyda'r Preins Arthur, Sec. son of Henry VII, and was named 

" To sir Rhys was committed the care Arthur, in honour of king Arthur, 

of prince Arthur." Sir Rhys was his He was born in the year 1486, and 

guardian. The prince was the eldest died in 1502. 



Y DOSPARTH II. 167 

XI. 

RHYVEL PLANT THOMAS, YN ABER MARLAIS. 






This poem contains a very animated and, at the same time, a graphic de- 
scription of a tournament feat exhibited by the sons and friends of Thomas 
ab Griffith ab Nicholas, at Aber Marlais. The whole scene is so ably and 
vividly pourtrayed as to give it the appearance of a real fight. 



Tri llu a a trwy'r holl iaith, 

I vryn Oliver unwaith ; 

Tri llu aeth, er treio Uyn, 

I lawesvraith o lasvryn. 4 

Llu Morgan a'r darian don, 

Llu Harri vwyeill hirion. 

Llu Davydd, trydydd o'r tri, 

Draw 'n dyvod drwy hen Deivi ; 8 

Blaenodd ar bobl ei ynys, 

Eithr ar ol ni thariai Rhys. 

Sion Mansel aV pensel pur, 

Ei lu yntau val antur ; 12 

Y ddau Vased oedd voesol, 

Y ddau Ryd oedd ar ei ol. 
Hopcyn ar lasvryn a'i laiv, 

Hwnw oedd val yr hynaiv. \Q 

Rhwng broder a chevnderoedd, 

Llu mawr oil, a mwyhauV oedd ; 

IV llu y bu maes ar ben, 

Val y maes vu i lu Moesen ; 20 

XL A poem commemorative of a sets of Esyllt, or Bewpyr (Beaupre), 

tournament given at Aber Marlais, near Cowbridge. 
by the sons of Thomas ab Griffith ab 14. Y ddau Ryd &c. The Rudds 

Nicholas. of Aberglasney, near Llangathen. 

11. Sion Mansely &c. The Man- 19. maes ar ben, " a champaign on 

sels of Margam. an eminence." 



13. Y ddau Vased &c. The Bas- 



in 4 



168 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ac wyth maner, gwaith menyg ; 

A thair bran yn eitha'r brig ; 

Trigain peled a rhagawr, 

Naw gwns val yn y Geins vawr ; 24 

Naw gwart heblaw'r Vowart vu, 

A naw byddin heb weddu. 

Bwaau hirion hwynt bioedd, 

Bwaau crwys yn bicra oedd ; 28 

Llewod a 11 u o waywawr, 

A llu maes o vwyeill mawr ; 

A phan vuV llu yn dair lleuad, 

Ar lasvryn tyddyn y tad ; 32 

Y Dug a ddoeth dranoeth draw 
O ael Gwent a'i lu gantaw ; 
A'r Dug pan glybu wardau 

Y He hwnt a'u llu hwyntau ; 36 
Danvonodd o'i vodd e vo, 

Dewr atynt i dretio. 

Rhoi'n gadben vrawd y brenin, 

Rhanu i wyr hwnw win ; 40 

Gwin gwyn anrhegion i gyd, 

Gwin havawg yno hevyd ; 

Osai i Gymmry vry'n y vron 5 

Osai isod i Saison. 44 

Gael o wyrion Nicolas 

Gevnau swrn rhag ovn y sias ; 

Odid o chyrch, o'i adwy, 

Un Sais Aber Marlais mwy : 48 

Dywawd Merddin vlodeuyn 

Ddau hav y gorvyddai hyn ; 

22. A thair bran, &c. The arms amnesty, as in the case of a real 

of Owain ab Urien, — the badge of his fight, 

descendants. 42. Gwin havawg. " plenty of 

28. Bwaau crwys, cross bows. wine." Yn havawg, at all rates ; 

31. A phan vu'r llu, &c. " When plentifully, 

the army was formed into three 44. Gael o wyrion, Sec. " The 

crescents." grandsons of Nicholas saw their an- 

33. Y Dug, " the duke." Here tagonists turning their backs, and 

one that represented a duke. scouring off in all directions for fear 

a ddoeth — a ddaeth. of an engagement." 

35. gwardau, to guard ; to defend. 49. d^tt'awc^ dywedodd. 

38. tretio, to treat for peace, or 



Y D0SPARTH II. 169 

Ac y gwnai vrain, Owain oedd, 

Ryw waith mawr wrth y moroedd. 52 

Gwnaethan' gad yn mhob adwy, 

Gwaen' vyth y gynhen yn vwy ; 

Hwy vo ar Benvro'n chwe ban, 

Hi a aeth yn " Hai weithian." 56 

Aeth y wlad i lwyth Elidir, 

Aed Rhos oil at y tair Sir. 

A'r ordd drom meibion Tomas 

A roes cwymp eres i'w cas ; 60 

Ac odid na ron' godwm 

Eto i rai a vo trwm. 

58. Rhos, a district in Pembrokeshire. 



DOSPARTH III. 



LLWYTH ELYSTAN GLODRYDD 

THE TRIBE OF ELYSTAN GLODRYDD. 



Elystan GLODRYDD,: 
founder of the fourth 
Royal Tribe of Wales. 



Cadwgan: 



Idnerth= 



Gwrgenau= 



Elidir Goch: 



Goronwy Goch= 
Grufydd === 



Davydd= 



Cadwallon, 
(lord of Maelienydd, in the time 
of Giraldus Cambrensis.) 
Sir Grufydd ab Elidir= 
(knight of Rhodes.) \ 

Owain ab sir Grufydd= 
(esquire of the body 
tc king Edward III.) 

Llywelyn Ddu: 



Einion Clud, 
(lord of Elvael.) 



Thomas= 



Thomas Vychan= 



I 

Gwilym ab Thomas Vychan= 
of Cevn Melgoed, Llan- 
gathen. 

Dosp. III. 9, 10. 



Llywelyn Voethus= 

Grufydd= Elidir Ddu. 

Jonet=Nicolas ab Philip. 



Henri ab Gwilym = 
of Lan Lais, 
Cwrt Henri, 
&c. 
Dosp. III. 4, 5. 



Eva=Sir Rhys ab 
Thomas, K.G.&c. 
Dosp. II. 10. 



I 

Llywelyn ab Gwilym, 
of Bryn Havod, &c. 
Dosp. III. 5, 6, 7. 



— Davydd Vychan. 
Dosp. III. 10, 11, 



Jonet = Sir William 
Matthew, of Rhaiadr 
Tav. (ancestor of the 
Matthews, earls of 
Llandaf.) 



Grufydd ab Nicolas. 
Dosp. II. 1. 



12. 






— Phylip o'r Annell, nephew to 
Phylip Morgan, Bishop of 
Ely. 

Dosp. III. 13. 

— Thomas = 



Owain ab Thomas = Eva, d. of 
Davydd of Cethiniog. 
Dosp. III. 14. 



G W A I T H 
LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

DOSPARTH III. 
LLWYTH ELYSTAN GLODRYDD. 



I. 

AWDL I DDAVYDD LLWYD AB DAVYDD AB EINION, 
O DRE NEWYDD. 



David Lloyd, who is said to have sprung from Elystan Glodrydd, is re- 
presented as one that was given to charity, and one upon whom the smiles of 
Heaven rested; and also as one whose delight it was to be in the society of the 
good and the pious. The bard compares his readiness to go and see him to 
that of the hawk to return to the falconer. He, throughout the poem, 
dwells on 'the kindness and amiableness of David Lloyd's disposition ; and 
mentions his devotedness to religious duties, and his many acts of generosity. 
f He was, it is stated, in the habit, on the different festivals of the church, of 
giving splendid entertainments, when the bard with other minstrels was in- 
vited and sumptuously entertained ; and the poor of the neighbourhood par- 
took of his alms which he liberally bestowed. The bard, in order to describe 
the kindness, the generosity, and the wealth of his host, has recourse to many 
and beautiful similes, clothed and expressed in language both simple and 
neat. 

This ode may be regarded as one of the most happy efforts of the bard in 
the clera composition. 



DAVYDD LLWYD, deurudd Hew tirion divalch, 

Ab Davydd ab Einion ; 

Ab Hywel a'r meirch gwelwon, 

A roes ei aur i'r oes hon. 4 



I. An ode addressed to David Lloyd ab David ab Einion, of Newtown, 
Montgomeryshire. 



172 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Yr oes hon am a roes hwnt, 

Ei Dduw a roes iddo rent; 

Ysgwier da i gerynt, 

Ysgwieriaidd wisg ariant. 8 

Ei gan a'i arian oedd ym, wyr ydy \v 

Maredydd ab Gwilym ; 

A ddyweto lle'dd ytym 

Drwy Geri oil ydyw'r grym. 12 

Gwr grymus dawnus, o'i dy rhydd llawn, 

Llin Elystan Glodrydd ; 

Gwr o^ phen a gar y fydd 

Gwyr dwyvawl a gar Davydd. 16 

Davydd Llwyd ydywV dovwr, 

Dy vod ato nid over ; 

Deuvis ni bydd edivar, 

Dwy vil yno y'n dovir ; 20 

Ei dai evo, rhwng deuvur, 

A dyvo yn dai Ivor. 

Vw dai ac iV bias y deuav yr $yl 

At Rolant, neu Vordav ; 24 

Cyn yr wyl yr amcanav 

Wedi 'r wyl iV dai yr av. 

Mai yr a hebog at hebogydd 

Awn at wyr Einion i'r twr onwydd, 28 

I ganu cywair o gan' cy wydd ; 

I ganu awdl val y gwnai wawdydd, 



6. Ei Dduw a roes, &c. " God re- his descendant, Rev. Geo. Arthur 

paid him for what he laid out in be- Evors, of Newtown Hall. The sur- 

nificence to others." name Evws was originally Ivor. 

21. Ei dai evo, Slc. That is, may 24. Mordav= MordavHael, a ehief- 

his estates ever be in the possession tain who lived about the close of the 

of an Ivor. Ivor, a term for a gene- fifth century. He was celebrated with 

rous person borrowed from Ivor Hael, Rhydderch and Nudd, under the ap- 

or Ivor the generous. David Llwyd's pellation of the three liberal princes 

estates are now in the possession of of the isle of Britain. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 173 

I dalu moliant uwch dolydd Havren, 

I drevnu awen i'r Drev Newydd. 32 

Troi a wn yno trwy Winionydd, 

Tair llys y w ei gwrt i'r lliosydd ; 

A thair dy'gwyl Vair yno a vydd, 

Tri Phase, tri Sulgwyn val pwynt oV fydd, 36 

Tri Dyw Nadalig yw'r trydydd anwyl, 

Tair gwyl yw pob gwyl yn eu gilydd. 

Tri bwrdd y mae in* draw'n 11a w'r llywydd, 

Tri byrddaid o wyr, trwy y byrddydd ; 40 

Tair saig wrth bob saig arnynt y sydd, 

Trinant a redant o wirodydd, 

Tri bwtler seler y sydd, yn wresog, 

Tri swyddog, a chog, a thri chigydd. 44 

Ei arver ydy w, wyr Varedydd ! 

I rai odidawg roi diodydd ; 

Rhoi cardawd i dlawd hyd ei wledydd, 

Rhoi llety i wawdwr, wr llwydd dedwydd ; 48 

Ac i wan torth gan gynnydd gwlad Bowys, 

Ac i ail Baradwys galw ei brydydd. 

Amlach i'n lyn, a'i lawenydd, 

No dwr i vyned i'r avonydd ; 52 

Amlach can i wan a than onwydd, 

No derw a main yn ngodre mynydd ; 

Yr aur oedd amlach no'r irwydd yn ddellt, 

No'r main ac no'r mellt, noV gwellt aV gwydd. 56 

Ei gerdd yn yr hav a gerdda'n rhydd 

Val niwl a gwynt ar vlaen newydd ; 

Son yno am dano vo a vydd 

Val gwlith a gwenith a brwyn gweunydd ; 60 

Val y daw gwlaw drwy'r gwlydd i'r bargod, 

Val y gwelid 6d, val goleu dydd. 

Ei henw a saiv, hyn sy uvydd, 

Tra vo byw adar, tra vo bedydd ; 64 






174 



!WIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ei glod a heuir yn y gwledydd 
Tra vo Caer Rhuvain, tra vo crevydd ; 
Tra vo haul a thes, tra vo hydd ar vron, 
Tra vo yw ac on, tra vo gwinwydd. 

Mae i ^yr Einion yn Meirionydd 

Wythawd] a deugain gan bob ieithydd ; 

O Vynyw hevyd i Vevenydd, 

Oddi yna o Gaer i Eiddionydd ; 

O Gaer-yn-Arvon i geurydd Hodni, 

Ac i Gaer Dervi mae gair Davydd. 



68 



n 



72. Gaer=o Gaervyrddin : Caer- 
marthen. Eiddionydd = Eivionydd. 



74. Caer Deivi, Aberteivi ; Cardi- 
gan. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 175 

II. 

MARWNAD DAVYDD LLWYD, O DRE NEWYDD. 



The bard represents death as having gone, like a foe, to Cedewain, and 
as having succeeded in carrying away, in triumph, from thence a rich trea- 
sure, — the loss of which filled Newtown with grief, and the then existing 
bards with despair ; or rather, to use the language of the poet, enveloped the 
town in a thick mist, and the bards in midnight darkness. He then enters 
into a detailed account of the excellency of David Lloyd's chai-acter, — as a 
gentleman, and the liberal patron of the bards. He concludes by compli- 
menting Rhys, David Lloyd's son ; and mentioning him as having succeeded 
to his father's property, he wishes him a long life to enjoy it. 



Gwae'b, wlad ! gwae ry w lu o wyr ! 

Gwae lu arall o glerwyr ! 

Angeu Duw vu'n Nghedewain, 

O'u trysawr hwy'n treisiawV rhai'n ; 4 

DoeV aeth, er digter i wan, 

Davydd Llwyd i vedd llydan. 

Niwl tew dros y Dre Newydd, 

A nos i veirdd ein hoes vydd. 8 

Vy nadsain am wyr Einion 

A glyw y Mars, ac ael Mori. 

Am hil M'redydd ab Gwilym 

Mae Cymmru heb dalu dym ; 12 

Ni rodded wedi ei wreiddio 

Ysgwier well is y gro ; 

Ni roi naw Haw o'r un llys, 

A roi Ddavydd a'r ddeuvys : 16 

Pob rhodd gynt a ddifoddes, 

Heb na grym, na byw, na gwres. 

Y gwr o aelwyd Geri, 

Oedd hael, a'i hennynodd hi; 20 

II. An elegy upon David Lloyd, descendant of Meredith ab Gwilym 
of Newtown, Montgomeryshire. Wales is nothing worth." 

11. Am hil, &c. "Without this 



176 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Odid cael rhyhael i'm rhdl, 

Na wisgwyd yn ei ysgol ; 

Athraw vu'r penaeth ar vainc, 

O'r Deau, i'r do ieuainc ; 24 

A siampler iV arveroedd, 

A haul a drych haelder oedd. 

Cynneddv gwyr ieuainc anwyl 

Yn ei dai gynt, er nad Gwyl ; 28 

Hyd y Nadolig trigo 

Od aem Wyl Vair iV deml vo ; 

Aros Pasc vu'n tasg, a'n taith, 

Ac yn ol Sulgwyn eilwaith. 32 

HeddywV awn heb waboddion 

I wylaw dwr val y don ; 

Aeth gant, ar unwaith^ o gudd 

I dal dwvr deulu Davydd. 36 

Trosto, am arwain tristyd, 

Trwy boen yr aethent o'r byd ; 

Teulu i Ddavydd vuom, 

Trist am hwn vyddwn tra vom. 40 

I noddy n y glaslyn glas 

Aed beirdd, am nad byw urddas. 

Aeth Davydd, gwawdydd, drwy gor, 

I nevoedd o vlaen Ivor; 44 

Velly gwnaeth, vy Hew gwyn iawn, 

Ivor wyn vry o Einiawn. 

Gyru at Dduw'n un gerynt, 

Gwr o gerdd a garai gynt ; 48 

A rhyw vynag Rhuveiniol 

Y doi i'r nev draw'n ei ol. 

25. siampler -^savcvplar, a pattern, Hael, and wrote a very pathetic elegy 

a model : cynllun. upon his death. See in David ab 

43. Aeth Davydd) &c. The bard Gwilym's works, p. xix. of the pre- 

states here that as David, the poet, face, an account of a false report, 

died before his patron Ivor Hael ; so, which, during Ivor's life, had been 

in like manner, did Howell Swrdwal circulated of the poet's death. This 

die before his patron David Lloyd. report may have been believed by our 

If the bard alluded, as above, to Da- author, 

vid ab Gwilym, it must have been an 49. mynag. Here an anticipation, 

oversight of his ; for he (David ab a presentiment. 
Gwilym) survived his patron Ivor 









Y DOSPARTH III. 



Swrdwal, trwy gartrev nevoedd, 
Prydu i Dduw pob pryd ydd oedd ; 
Prydu, val y bu'n y byd, 
Glod Davydd, cael gilt hevyd. 



177 



52 



Davydd oedd Gaer Ludd y wlad, 
A'i gwayw aur, 3l\ hagoriad ; 
Rhys ei vab, He rhoes ei vedd, 
Yw Twr Gwyn hyd tir Gwynedd. 
Unben, un wreichionen rydd, 
Yty w ev o waed Davydd : 
Ni ddifydd na dydd, na dawn, 
Tan on etewyn Einiawn. 
Y lie yr aeth Davydd Llwyd 
Oedd brivfordd Davydd brophwyd ; 
Aeth at lu'r Iesu rasol, 
Aeth Rhys yn benaeth ar ol ; 
Aeth ev i'r nev, ei ran oedd, 
Aed i Rys dair o oesoedd. 



56 



60 



64 



68 



54. gilt, a contribution. pensed his mead, or metheglin." 
56. (Ci hagoriad, " and its key, or 62. Tan on, &c. " A blaze from 

moving principle." the flambeaux of Einion." 
&l«lle rhoes ei vedd, " where he dis- 



178 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ill, 



I RYS AB DAVYDD LLWYD, YSWAIN. 



Rice ab David Lloyd, of the tower of Baldwyn, is addressed, in this ode, 
as an esquire ; as king Edward's steward of the lordships of Cedewain, Kerry, 
Cyveiliog, and Arwystli ; and also as being a Justice of peace. The greatest 
portion, however, of the ode is taken up in describing him in the character 
of a distinguished and powerful warrior. 



Yn nhwr Baldwyn es dwynos, 
Mynwn y mod mewn un mis ; 
Yno i siwrneio nes 
Ev a wellwell vy wyllys. 

Vy wyllys am bryd trwy Vallwyd y troes, 
At Rys ab Davydd Llwyd ; 
Ysgwier, val Cl&r ab Clwyd ; 
A gynneiliai gan' aelwyd ; 



III. An ode addressed to Rice ab 
David Lloyd, of Montgomery castle, 
and Newtown. He was thirteenth 
in lineal descent from Elystan Glod- 
rydd, whose arms, quartered with 
those of his son Cadwgan, are still 
borne by most of the branches of this 
family. 

1. Tier Baldwyn, Baldwyn's castle; 
but now called Montgomery castle 
after Hugh Montgomery, earl of A- 
rundel and Salop, who took the town 
and castle in 1092. 

5. Mallwyd, a village, near Dinas 
Mawddwy, on the Machynlleth road. 
Dr. John Davies, author of the 
"Welsh-Latin Dictionary, was rector 
of Mallwyd in the reign of queen 
Elizabeth. There is now in the pos- 
session of the honourable Mr. Justice 
Bosanquet a MS. containing a num- 
ber of poems addressed to the doctor 
by the bards of his time. 



7. Ysgioier = esquire ; armour- 
bearer : yswain. Rice ab David 
Lloyd was esquire of the body to 
king Edward IV. He was a staunch 
Yorkist, and was rewarded for his 
services by Edward appointing him 
governor of Montgomery castle. The 
appointment however seems to have 
been only for Rice's life ; for Henry 
VIIL, soon after his accession to the 
throne, granted the castle, and its de- 
pendencies, to his gentleman usher of 
the privy chamber, sir Richard Her- 
bert, knight, who after this appoint- 
ment was generally styled sir Richard 
Herbert, of Montgomery. The estates 
are now possessed by his descendant, 
the lord Viscount Clive. Sir Richard 
was the second son of sir Richard 
Herbert, of Coalbrook, knight. See 
Dosp. I. 20. 

Cler ab Clwyd, a character in the 
Chwedlau of former times. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 179 

Aelwydau'n Neau yn ei wart, sCi ran, 

A ry'r brenin Ed wart ; 

A'i ddaed ev i nyddu dart, 

Nosiau da Tn ysdiwart ! 12 

Ystiwart dwywart Cede wain, Ceri ; 

Cariad Ynys Prydain ; 

Erchwyniog Cyveiliog vain, 

A dwy Arwystl ; a'r dwyrain. 16 

Maen glain or dwyrain diredd yty w Rhys ; 

Maen wttreswyr Gwynedd; 

Mab Davydd, maen muchudd medd, 

Mae'n Ustus yma'n eistedd. 20 

Eistedd mae'r gwledydd yn wastad dan Rys, 

Dan yr un egoriad ; 

Pedwar o gloi pedair gwlad, 

A thwr eglur a theirgwlad. 24 

Teirawdl a ddygav, drwy'r wlad derwyn, 

I ''stiwart Edwart fordd yr adwyn ; 

Mai y tri brenin divlin yn dwyn, 

Yn eu tair covlaid, y tri cyvlwyn. 28 

Dan ewinedd Rhys gwlad Wenwynwyn 

A dry, ac eilwaith hyd ar Golwyn ; 

Dan ei droed o goed plwyv Llangedwyn, 

Y bo yn deilwng, hyd Bendeulwyn. 32 



13. Ystiwart, &c. =a steward : go- Christ, 

ruchwyliwr. 29. gwlad Wenwynwyn, " the 

Besides being appointed governor land of Gwenwynwyn :" Powysland. 

of Montgomery castle, we learn from Gwenwynwyn, the son of Owain 

this ode that he was also constituted Cyveiliog, was a chieftain of Powys 

steward of the lordships of Cedewain, in the beginning of the thirteenth 

Kerry, Cyveiliog, and Arwystli. century. 

27. Mai y tri brenin, &c. An allu- 32. Pendeulwyn, a parish in the 
sion to the three wise men of the hundred of Cowbridge, Glamorgan- 
east presenting their offerings, &c. to shire. 

N 2 



180 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Lie sango ei droed evo ar dwyn, 

Llawer gwr arvawg i'r marchawg mwyn ; 

Llawer gwal naddvaen i'r gwr addvwyn ; 

Llawer gwayw esgud, llawer Gwasgwyn. 36 

Saethau o'i dyrau sydd yn dirwyn 

Cylch ei drev, mor grev a threv y Grwyn ; 

Gynau a glywir hav a gwanwyn, 

Yn mrig ei gaeroedd val mor gerwin. 40 

Mae'n dovi gwylliaid Uonaid pob llwyn ; 

Mae'n diva lladron mewn dwy avwyn ; 

Mae'n rhwymaw'r ddwywlad mewn un gadwyn ; 

Yn mhenau rhai from y mae'n rhoi frwyn. 44 

Y brenin Edwart bob rhyw wanwyn, 

Ev a ei ergyd drwy wlad Vyrgwyn ; 

Ev a ry'n y Nordd ddyrnod orddwyn, 

Yni gysgo Gien a Gasgwyn. 48 

A Rhys ar ei ol, a'i wayw'n un olwyn, 

Yn bwrw Francod uchod wrth gychwyn ; 

Yn ymlid a'i wns aliwns val vvyn ; 

Yn defol Saison breision val brwyn. 52 

Unllaw blaen Havren lie bu Wenwyn, 

Unllaw a gorchest, unllaw ac erchwyn ; 

Unllavn yn Ngheri a'i harianllwyn ; 

Unllys Cedewain a'i breninllwyn. 56 

E ddeil Ysgotiaid rhwng pob deil-lwyn, 

E drwsia Gwyddel wedi'r aswyn ; 

Ev a eilhVr pen dan avail -lwyn ; 

Ev a dyr ei walk evo, a'i drwyn. 60 



38. Grwyn = Gaveren, a town in 53. Wenwyn =Wenwynyn. See 
Belgium, situated on the Scheldt. line 29. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 



181 



Ev yw'r pendevig o Veirig vwyn ; 
Ev y w'r pen-cadben i dderbyn cwyn ; 
Ev yw pen-cynghor cylch D61 Vorwyn, 
Val y bu Oldal yn nhwr Baldwyn. 



64 



63. Dol Vorwyn, D61 y Vorwyn 
castle, in Montgomeryshire, now in 
ruins. It was built, according to 
Dugdale, by prince David ab Lly- 
welyn ; but, according to the Welsh 
writers, it was built by JBleddyn ab 
Cynvyn, between the years 1065 and 
1073. At the conquest of Wales, 
Edward I. granted it to Roger de 
Mortimer, who had caused the gar- 
rison of prince Llywelyn to surrender 
for want of water. 



64. Oldal, most probably a cor- 
ruption of Arundel. The bard's 
meaning appears to be this, namely, 
that he wished the readers of his ode 
to understand that the authority of 
his hero was so great at D61 y Vor- 
wyn, as once was that of Hugh 
Montgomery, earl of Arundel, at 
Baldwyn's castle, which, after he had 
taken it, he fortified and called it 
after his own name. 



n3 



182 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



IV. 



I HENRI AB GWILYM AB TOMAS VYCHAN, 
O GETHINIOG, YN NGLAN TYWI. 



The bard acknowledges Henry ab Gwilym's liberality towards him — 
mentions his descent from Goronwy Goch and Elystan Glodrydd, — and after 
that, through the rest of the poem, he speaks of his superior skill in the 
exercise of the spear and the sword, as well as of his undaunted courage as a 
warrior. 



Pa Gymmro'n gwreiddo o vewn grym wythwyr ; 

Eithr Henri ab Gwilym ? 

Ai annewr y Hew einym ? 

Ai mwy 'stor iarll no'r meistr ym ? 

Erioed imi wyr Domas 
Aur o'i eiddaw a roddes ; 
Ev, eithr Llywelyn Voethus, 
Vu orau ei gy varws ; 
Ac o wlad Gethiniog lys 
Yn mro Dywi maeV dewis. 



IV. An ode addressed to Henry great, that it involved both families 

ab Gwilym ab Thomas Vaughan, of for a long time in mutual feuds, and 

Cethiniog, Caermarthenshire. hate of each other. A reconciliation 

Henry ab Gwilym built Court however was at last effected between 
Henry, in Caermarthenshire, which the two houses, by sir Rhys ab Tho- 
was called after his name, his family mas, after his father's death, marry- 
having lived before at a place in that ing Eva, the daughter and heiress of 
neighbourhood, called Llan Lais. He Henry ab Gwilym. 
is said (in the Camb. Reg. vol. i. There is a poem, in the Gorches- 
p. 66.) to be "a gentleman of an an- tion Beirdd Cymru, commemorative 
cient lineage, welthie and full of mag- of Henry ab Gwilym ab Thomas, 
nanimitie," and, in person tall and probably the subject of the present 
well built. He was a determined and poem, together with one Owain, be- 
unyielding opponent of Thomas ab ing taken prisoner by the Lancas- 
Griffith, and was the first that pro- trians, and confined in Harlech castle, 
voked him in duel. They fought, it until they were, both of them, re- 
is said, eight if not ten different leased by the Yorkists under the earl 
duels; but Thomas ab Griffith was of Pembroke, in 1468. 
always declared victor. 9. Cethiniog, a comot in Caer- 

The animosity that existed between marthenshire. 
these two rival champions was so 



Y DOSPARTH III. 183 

Ei ddewis ydd wyv o ddeuwr deilwng 

O dalaeth Dinevwr ; 1 2 

O Elystan ar gannwr, 

O Ronwy Goch yr un gwr. 

Ev yw'r gwr a fwrw gwerin, 

Os gwr a wisgai arian ; 1 

Ym Sant Grigor ! ni'm dorwn 

EurawV gwr a'r aerwy gwyn. 

Gwyn ei vyd undyn, yn ei wendid, 

A gatwo Henri a'r gway w tan wrld ; 20 

Yn oen, neu'n angel, ev a welid, 

Ei eiriau gwrawl vry a gerid ; 

Ei wayw, a'i lavn, a'i law a ovnid, 

Ev a ai yn Lew pan v^ai'n ei lid; 24 

Ymladdwr ydyw od ymleddid, 

Wedi'r vmladd e dro i ymlid : 

Llyna ei arver lie concwerid 

Llidio ei Wasgwyn lie y dysgid ; 28 

Newidio gwewyr pan gyfroid, 

Darnu ei wey wyr wedi'r newid ; 

Rhoi aur, a dal herwyr a'u dilyd, 

Y mae y sieryv o mesurid, 32 
Bob ddau, bob dri, 'n eu dodi wrth did, 

A mynu dadl i'r man y dodid : 

Y gwr a'r swyddau, lie gorseddid, 

A esyd ei aur a ystorid, 36 

Ar gestyll hevyd er a gostid ; 
Ac ar dyrau praf, ac ar dir prid. 

Iaspar wayw llachar, myn bedd Llechid ! 

O dir Gwynedd y darongenid ; 40 



17- Sant Grigor, Saint Gregory. the beginning of the sixth century, to 

39. Llechid, the daughter of Ithel whom there is a church dedicated in 
Hael o Lydaw, a saint who lived in Carnarvonshire. 

N 4 



184 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Henri a'i deulu'n hir a'u dilyd 
A'i way w du llyvn wedi y llivid : 

Cadben yw Henri hyd Elenid, 
Ei sawdwyr o gylch a osodid ; 
Yn ei ol gweywyr a anelid, 
Miliwn o vwaau, mal na veiid. 

O vlaen y lluoedd a gyvlenwid 
Ev a a eilwaith pan ryvelid, 
Ev a a, eryr cryv a eurid ! 
O vlaen ei adar val ei nodid. 

Ev a dyv derwen lie y plenid 
Uwchlaw y derw ucbel a dorid ; 
E dyvodd Henri, lle'n gwahoddid, 
Uwchlaw undyn ucho o lendid. 

O garu cerddawr, lie rhagorid, 
roi i gerddwyr ag a urddid, 
O vynu y blaen ev a enwid ; 
O vonedd hevyd^ pan ovynid. 

O allu dilys lie y dylid, 

O roi ei allu er a ellid ; 

O daraw wellwell yn ei drallid^ 

O dori onen a draienid, 

Hyny o gampau, wedi y rhanid, 

Henri a'u dyly ar Gymmry gyd. 



44 



48 



52 



56 



60 



64 



Y DOSPARTH III. 



185 



V. 



I LLYWELYN A HENRI AB GWILYM, O LAN TYWI 
AC I'R AVON. 



Llywelyn is mentioned as living on one side of the river Towy, and his 
brother Henry on the other side. After saying this, the bard alludes to 
the patriotism and the advancing prosperity of the two brothers. And 
then he reminds them of his having foretold their future greatness, and 
that at the time when he was in the habit of relating to them, over the wine, 
the history of Brutus, and other ancient stories, as well as occasionally re- 
citing songs of former days, giving an account of men who lived in times long 
gone by. 

The bard now takes up the third subject of his poem, namely, the river 
Towy. He commences by expressing his regret that so large a body of 
water, which is seldom passable, should separate the mansions of the two 
brothers. After mentioning the river as rising from two sources, he gives 
an animated description of it during flood-time — such as its great width — 
the mighty havoc it then commits in uprooting and carrying along with it 
trees of every size and description, as well as corn, hay, &c. He then men- 
tions his inability to swim, as well as his fear to cross it in a coracle ; and 
concludes with an earnest wish to live long enough to see a bridge thrown 
over it. 



O Dduw ! ys da o ddeuwr, 
Sy'n anneddu deutu'r dwr ; 
Llywelyn, erchwyn ein iaith, 
Un rhywl yw Henri eilwaith ; 
Dau vroder, un gryvder grym, 
Dwy wal i'r wlad o Wilym ; 
Deuvur Tomas ab Davydd, 
A gauai'r wlad yn Gaer Ludd ; 
Ev aeth \ftyrion Goronwy 
O vlaen mil, viliwn a mwy. 



V. Addressed to Llywelyn ab 
Gwilym and his brother Henry. 
Llywelyn lived at Bryn Havod, on 
the south of the river Towy, opposite 
Aber Marlais ; and Henry at Lan 
Lais ; but afterwards at Court Henry, 
in the vale of Towy, which mansion 
he built, and called it, as has been 



already noticed, after his own name. 

Arms : parted per Bend gules and 
azure; cross, or thereon five crescents 
argent. 

4. rhywl =rhyw, of the same kind, 
or kindred : a chip of the same block. 

8. Caer Ludd, London. 



186 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ar gan y darogenais 

Lenwi y wlad o Lan Lais ; 12 

O dderwen Llan Gathen gynt 

Imp wedi'r impiaw ydynt ; 

Llywelyn yw'n himpyn ni, 

AV unrhyw wr yw Henri. \6 

Yved eu gwin, ryw vyd gynt, 

Yn mhob awr im'a berynt ; 

A mynegi, myn Iago ! 

Ystoriau Brutus o Dro ; 20 

A hen gerdd a henwau gwyr, 

A rhieni yr henwyr ; 

Ba les, rhwng deublas y rhai'n, 

Mae'r dwr mwya' o'r dwyrain ? 24 

Porth Duw bobparth i Dywi, 

Porthva yr hindda y w hi ; 

Ei deupen, mal llanw Menai, 

Llenwi yn un llyn a wnai ; 28 

Llanw o vor allan a vydd, 

Lliv enaint oil o vynydd. 

Yr oedd, llyma'r arwyddion, 

Arver hael ddigriv ar hon ; 32 

A'i lliv a ddyco o'r Hall, 

Hi a'i dyry Tr wlad arall ; 

Hwswl yw hi wedi hyn, 

A'i hwsw'iaeth dros ewyn ; 36 

Ei lliv a ddwg, ar ei lied, 

Yd a gwair hyd y gored ; 

Oddiyno mudo i'r mdr 

Y derw, rhwng ei dau oror ; 40 

Diwreiddiaw, cwympaw y coed, 

A goresgyn y gwrysgoed ; 

Is y tai y dengys Tywi 

Maint yw lied ei mantell hi. 44 

Mam lliveiriaint berwnaint bas, 

Morgymmlawdd amrygamlas ; 

25. Porth Duw &c. =■ Duw a bortha, &c. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 187 

Merch i avon Iorddonen, 

Mordwy hwy no lliv Noe hen ; 48 

Ystred dros vaesdir ydyw, 

Ystryd yn vy rhwystro y w ; 

Tebig, pan v'wyv heb ddigiaw, 

I dderdri wy v ar ddwr draw ; 52 

Ev nid ai, rhag ovn y don, 

I dir nev drwy un avon ; 

Nid av vi i Dywi, val dall, 

Neu ddwr gwineuddu arall ; 56 

Noviaw, myn Pedr ! nis medrais 

Yn monwes hon mwy no Sais; 

Ni charav, mwy no'r ddavad, 

Gwrwgl byr gwargul, a bad ; 60 

Mae'm bryd yn ddiwyd, ryw ddydd, 

Dramwy yno drwy'r mynydd ; 

O Dduw ! rhoed einioes i'r ddau, 

Os myn, rhoed oes i minnau ; 64 

Ac eisoes, yn ein oes ni, 

Y tro Duw bont ar Dywi. 



188 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



VI. 



I LLYWELYN AB GWILYM AB TOMAS VYCHAN, 
BRYN HAVOD. 



It appears from this poem that the bard was in the constant habit of going 
to Bryn Havod from his earliest infancy ; and that as he advanced in years 
he was ever a welcome visitor there. He tells us of Llywelyn's kindness and 
attention to him when yet a child — also of the continuance of that kindness — 
and what delightful pleasure he always found in being present at his table ; 
and the great reluctance with which he always left his hospitable mansion. 
These effusions of his heart the bard couches under similes, and in lan- 
guage full of tenderness. He next alludes to Llywelyn's entertaining the 
bards at the different festivals of the church ; and, in that character, he ap- 
plies to him the epithet of Ivor of Bryn Havod. He concludes by wishing 
him, in his career of goodness, the enjoyment of a long life, — a life more 
lengthened than the age of the stag, or the duration of the oak. 



Mi av at Nudd Bryn Havod, 
Gyda hwn mynwn vy mod ; 
Llywelyn, derwyn val dar, 
Ab Gwilym heb gau alwar ; 
Wyr i Domas ddiareb, 
Vy chart y w : A vu uwch neb ? 
Wyr Iohn ab Grufydd o'r iaith 
Yw'r hael y sy'n rhoi eilwaith ; 
Ni'm gadai a'i vwnai'n vud, 
Nag i wylaw serch golud ; 
A'i aur, a'i vedd, y gwyr vo 
Voneddig vy nyhuddo. 
Un sir wyv a mab gwirion 
A ro ei vryd ar y vron ; 



12 



VI. Addressed to Llywelyn ab 1. Nudd, a term of compliment to 

Gwilym ab Thomae Vaughan, of Lywelyn ab Gwilym. 
Bryn Havod. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 189 

Mi a roes ar hwn vy mryd, 

Mi a'i rhov, myn Mair ! hevydd ; Id 

E'm magodd a'i rodd ddi rus 5 

E'm gwnaeth yn vab maeth moethus. 

Moethusach mewn maeth iso 

Wy' ar ei vwrdd a'i aur vo ; 20 

Not pysg yn mysg heli'r mor 5 

No Davydd ar vord Ivor ; 

No mab mam ar ei vamaeth, 

No merch ar ei dynion maeth. 24 

Yr a vane er ei ovyn 

Wyv yn llech ar vin y llyn ; 

O don Llyn Syvaddon vo 

Ni thynwyd ban aeth yno : 28 

Ni'm tyn men nag ychain gwaith, 

Oddiyma heddyw ymaith. 

Myn v'enaid ! ni'm caid un cam 

Yr vvyl oiwrth garw Wiliam. 32 

Syrthiav wedrr hav er hyn, 

Yr ail wyl ar Ly welyn ; 

Gydag ev y cartrevav 

Nev yn ei gartrev a gav. 36 

Rhiv syr o gerddwyr a gaid 

Yn nevoedd ei henaviaid, 

Pasc, Sylgwyn, hwy vynyn** vod 

Yn nhai Ivor Bryn Havod. 40 

Ystwyll, Calan, ar Ian Lais 5 

Nadalig ar Ian Dwylais ; 

Cornel o dai Lly welyn 

Yw'r tair llys er treiaw llyn. 44 

Hyn vo Llywelyn o'r llys 

No derwen o'r Wen Ynys ; 

Not ddar, (hono yw'r dderwen,) 

No'r hydd a ai yn rhy hen. 48 

22. Davydd^ Davydd ab Gwilym, garth, is the largest lake in South 

the bard of Ivor Hael. Wales. 

27. Llyn Syvaddon, (written also 46. Wen Ynys, the isle of Britain. 

Savaddon, and Savaddan), from Y Wtn^ Ynys was one of its original 

which issues the little river Llyvnwy, appellations, 
in the county of Brecon, near Tal- 



190 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Mae y bel mab i Wilym 
Mewn ei law, mae yn elw yra ; 
Ni wyr, pan ddelai yn nes, 
Roi nag i wr o'i neges ; 
Ni wyddwn innau addev 
I Dduw a dyn ei ddaed ev : 
Ei dda vyth a roddai vo ; 
A daed oedd ! da Duw iddo. 



52 



56 



Y DOSPARTH III. 191 



VII. 



I LYWELYN AB GWILYM AB TOM AS VYCHAN, 
BRYN HAVOD. 



This ode is in praise of the splendid establishment which Lywelyn ab 
Gwilym kept. In his house, it is said, there was no lack of any thing which 
could contribute to the comfort of the bard. The number of visitors who 
frequented the house is reported to be overflowing. But throughout the 
poem, the bard, as it were, wrapt up in himself, speaks of the friendly terms 
on which he stood with Lywelyn, and how attached they were the one to the 
other. 



Pa dy o Gymmru a ddwg ym lawer ? 

Ty Lewis ab Gwilym. 

Pand da yw'r ty yma ym ? 

Pand hwn ywV pen ty einym ? 4 

Pen ty wyr Tomas, pen ty irwydd serch ; 

Pen ty Sion ab Grufydd ; 

Pen ty clod a diodydd, 

Pand hwn yw vo ? pand hyn vydd ? 8 

Hyn yma a gav, hen ammod a wnav, 

Gan Ivor Bryn Havod ; 

Hen aur ym, val rhanu'r 6d, 

Hyn oedd dda a hen ddiod. 12 

Diod rhag syched, diwyd giniawa, 

Bwyd rhag newyn hevyd ; 

Dillad a than rhag anwyd, 

A da bath lonaid y byd. 16 



VII. An ode addressed to the contend the word should he written) 

same Lywelyn ab Gwilym ab Tho- Llewelyn. Such also is Iolo for Ior- 

mas, of Bryn Havod. werth; Huw (Dosp. III. 15. line 44. 

2. Lewis, an abbreviated term of &c.) for Hywel ; Ned for Edward, &c. 
endearment for Llywelyn, or (as some 



192 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Y byd o ddynion val i'r badd a a 

Oddiyna i'r noddva nadd ; 

Deg ddengwaith tair iaitb, un radd, 

Naw nawwaith aen* i'w neuadd. 20 

Vy Ue'ii ei neuadd sy gyvaddas, 

Vy ngwely gwedy 'doi a gadas 

Vy euraw a chloth o Varras a wnai, 

Vy nhai yw ei dai, nai Eneas ! 24 

Carav Vryn Havod val priodas, 

A'i Haw, a'i harddwrn oil, a'i hurddas ; 

Cariad Eliwlad (pan las) ar ei wlad ; 

Cariad y gleisiad ar y mor glas. 28 

Ni rown Lywelyn gan vaint ei ras, 

Er tyrau Gwynedd, er tir Gwanas ; 

Nid rhaid ym wrtb nertb un tras, nac un clud ; 

Nid rhaid rhyd o'r byd ar y dwr bas. 32 

Ei garu mae ei deuluwas, 

Egoriad rhy vel a gway w eirias ; 

Galwer yn Emrys mewn golas wydrin, 

A minnau'n Verddin main ei varddas. 36 

Evo a'm galwai i'n Eli'as, 

A mi a'i galwai vo'n Vathias ; 

Ev vry a'm galwai' n Adda Vras hynav, 

Evo a alwav innau'n Velwas. 40 

Pob tir o Wynedd, pob teyrnas, 

A edwyn ; ei blwyv a'i dai'n ei bias ; 

Pob dyn, Llywelyn waywlas, a'i govyn 

Val y govyn dyn fordd i'r Dinas. 44 



17- badd, see Dr. W. O. Pughe's 31. clud — car clud, collateral rela- 

Dict. tive in the fourth degree. 

22. cadas, what is used for bind- 35. golas, see Dr. W. O. Pughe's 
ing ; fillet : galloon. Diet. 

23. a chloth Varras, "with the 42. a'i dai yn ei bias, "and the 
cloth (tapestry) of Arras." apartments in his mansion." 



Y DOSPARTH III. 193 

Ni'm lluddiai iV dai holl wlad Euas, 



Na llyn o Deivi, na llanw divas ; 

Na tharan, neu dan, na dinas gaerawg ; 

Na draig ewinawg, na dur gwynias. 48 

Ni'm tynai Arthur yn ei guras, 

Na men, nag ychain, na gwr, na gwas ; 

Na dim, er ei nerth, mwy na das o'i waith, 

Awr 6*1 dai ymaith, eryr Domas ! 52 

Wyr Domas Vychan lie rhoed ymy gan 

YwV gwr goraun Nghymmru ; 

Aed vy mendith i'w drithy, 

Ac nid el led gwann o'i dy. 56 



194 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



VIII. 



WILYM AB TOMAS VYCHAN, O GEVN MELGOED, 
LLAN GATHEN. 






The bard opens his poem by introducing to our notice the subject of 
it in the noble character of a hero, as well as a generous dispenser of 
metheglin ; and also as a gentleman possessing great territory in South 
Wales. He ranks him the foremost in the performance of every kind of 
athletic games peculiar to his country. He, after this, mentions his good 
management in domestic affairs ; and the high esteem in which he was held 
by all the neighbourhood. And concludes by again alluding to the valour, 
the great personal strength, and high stature, of his hero. 



Y gwr hir a'r gwayw o'r rhest 
Yn ei gyrch a wna gorchest ; 
Wiliam un hyd SaPmon hen, 

A bair gwaith uwch bro Gathen ; 4 

Yn ei vraich, val naw o Vran, 

Y saiv awch Tomas Vycban. 
Yn mueilgyrn Cevn Melgoed 

Y bifr medd i bawb ermoed ; 8 
A Davydd vu'r hydd a'i rhoes, 

Ei wyr Wiliam yr eiloes. 

Sieb Dovr Tomas ab Davydd 

A dal ei wyr hyd Gaer Ludd ; 12 

Wiliam a dal mwy o dir 

Hyd y hedwyn Deheudir. 

VIII. Addressed to William ab mencement of the seventh century. 
Thomas Vaughan, of Cevn Melgoed, 1. gwayw <?r rhest, the spear is 

in the parish of Llan Gathen. He taken from the rest, that is, its place 

was the father of Henry ab Gwilym of support, when the cavalier charges 

of Court Henry. his foe. 

Llan Gathen (Cathan), a parish 11. Sieb Dovr &c. that is, the 

and church in the Vale of Towy, mansion of Thomas, the descendant 

Caermarthenshire. Saint Cathan was of David, resembled a place of enter- 

the son of Cawrdav ab Caradog tainment like that of a hotel in 

Vreichvras. He lived about the com- Dover. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 195 

Gronwy Goch, gorau un gwr, 

Y dan avael Dinevwr; 16 

Wiliam goch, helmawg ei wyr, 

Sy a hwnw un synwyr. 

Dyg bedair camp ar h ugain, 

Hyddgarw hir a ddygai'r rhai'n. 20 

Pedair privgamp o'i hydab, 

A wnai evo er yn vab ; 

Saethu, neidio tyno teg ; 

Yn nwvr rhyd noviaw ; rhedeg : 24 

Ev ar ugain overgamp 

Yw un clo yn cau, a lamp. 

Deg dyddan, un amcan oedd, 

T)eg gwrawl i gadw eaeroedd. 28 

Un gamp ar ugain a gaid, 

Bwrw llawvaen, a bar llivaid ; 

Marchogaeth meirch eogawr, 

Ymavael cwymp mae val cawr. 32 

Ar ei hoi, pedwar helynt, 

Derw ar ros dwr awyr ynt ; 

Beleod, pysgod bob par, 

Ceirw oediawg, a rhyw adar. 36 

Daly hwswold drwy wroldeb, 

Llyna a wna"*n well no neb. 

Ei wyth bare a byrth y byd, 

Wyth gan' erw, wyth gae enyd, 40 

Wyth o erwydd wrth warae, 

wenith coch yn wyth cae. 

E dal o^ gryd i elawr, 

Wilym wyth o Veli mawr; 44 



21. hydab =hydeb, boldness. 37. Daly hwswold, " a good mana- 

30. bar llivaid, " a pointed, or ger of a family." 
sharpened, iron bar." 39. a byrth =a bortha. 

31. meirch eogawr, " horses of sal- 41. erwydd =erwi: acres of land. 
mon-like activity." 

O 2 



196 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ei air y sydd val dwr swyn, 

dir Islont i'r DVyslwyn. 

A'r Ddwylais urdd yw Wiliam, 

1 Allt y Gaer Hew di gam ; 48 
Oferen Ian dyfryn Lais, 

A phren dail dyfryn Dwylais ; 

Dar o nev yw'n daiar ni, 

A dart aur Ystrad Ty wi ; 52 

A glaiv o'r hynaiv y rhawg, 

A than- way w i Gethiniawg. 

Mwy yw elin i'r milwr 

Nog Elin deg o Lyn Dwr ; 56 

Mwy yw brig ei lymwayw bras 

No miliwn o wayw Melwas. 

Hir yw Wiliam val Rholant, 

Hwy no gwr heno o gant; 60 

Hwy no hir yw hwn o hyd, 

Aed hirhoedl at ei wrhyd. 



46. D'ryslwyn, Dyryslwyn castle. fair Ellen of Glyn Dwr. 
The ruins of this castle are still seen Glyn Dwr, a name of a place in 

overhanging the river Towy, not far Caermarthenshire. 
from those of Dinevwr castle. 58. Melwas, a fabulous character 

54. A tha.n-wa.yw &c. that is, a in the Mabinogion. 

spearman that would strike fire from 59. Rholant — Orlando of Romance, 

the target of the foe. 62. gwrhyd, a stature; a man's 

55. Mwy yw elin &c. that is, the length ; a fathom, or two yards, 
elbow is of great use in the manage- William is said (line 61) to be hwy 
ment of the safwy (a pike or lance) no hir, that is, above the general 
in a horse combat : yea, of greater stature of man. 

assistance upon such occasion than 



Y DOSPARTH III. 197 



IX. 



AWDL O VAWL I GWILYM VYCHAN, GETHINIOG, AC 
I WENLLIAN EI WRAIG, AC I DAVYDD EU MAB. 



The bard represents himself as being at the mansion of Gwilym Vaughan 
ludicrously dressed in a loose coat of mail. On this occasion he avails him- 
self of the opportunity of writing the present ode in praise of his patron ; 
addressing, at the same time, complimentary verses to his wife and also to 
their son. He speaks highly of the three, and particularly of Gwenllian, who 
is described as being unremitting in her attention to the numerous poor who 
flocked around her for relief. 



Ysmala ydwyv mewn crys melan llaes, 

Yn llys Gwilym Vychan ; 

Gwyn yw lliw llys Gwenllian, 

Llys y w a gaif llesu gwan. 4 

I'r gwan yr ai gan, ac ym yr eilwaith, 

Aer Wiliam ab Gwilym ! 

Byw'n gywir iawn, bob un grym, 

Ar ei adav yr ydym. 8 

By w'n rym yr ydym ar wirodydd llyn ; 

Llin Tomas ab Davydd ! 

Gwenllian, llin Vorgan, vydd 

Ein holl win a'n llawenydd. 12 

Llawenydd yw Davydd deg, 

Ab Gwilym yn mhob golwg ; 

O Gaio braf, ac o'i brig, 

Hithau ynys Gethiniog. 16 

Trumog Cethiniog, wrth ddewiniawVi iawn, 
AV tai, a'r dyniawn, a'r tir danaw ; 

IX. An ode in praise of Gwilym 15. Caio, the hundred of Caio, in 

Vaughan, of Cethiniog, his wife the county of Caermarthen, between 

Gwenllian, and their son David. Llandovery and the river Teivy. 

7- bob un grym —bob un grymus. 

o3 



198 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Tri vry sy'n unty^ nwyntiaw pob dyn, 

Tridyn a'u trillyn yn eu trulliaw. 20 

Mae'n wrda Wiliam, mae'n wardiaw arnam, 

Mae'n ward Wiliam maner Deilaw ; 

A vo gwar a gar, ni ad guriaw gwan ; 

Ond rhoddi arian nid trwy ddiriaw. 24 

Ar un gwag gorwag a wnai guraw swrn, 

A geiriau a dwrn y gyrai daw ; 

Tyn nierch Llywelyn, uwchlaw pawb, y rhoes, 

Troi iddi einioes trwy eiddunaw. 

Wyr Vorgan tarian yn tiriaw'n mhob glyn ; 
Ar Ryd Odyn vryn, er ovn neu vraw ; 
Arian Gwenllian vu'm Haw, bob dengrod, 
A'i haur a'i diod i'm hardwyaw. 

Gwnav a darlleav rhagllaw i'r ddwysir, 

Gerdd iddi gywir, Gwawrddydd Caiaw ! 

O'i thai ni adai na naw, na dengnyn ; 

Neu, o bai gannyn, un heb giniaw. 36 

Trugain a thrichant yn trigaw o weinion, 

O benau doethion sy'n bendithiaw ; 

Deugain a dwyvil sy'n bendigaw'r ty, 

Holl Gymmry Vyny hyd ar Vanaw. 40 

*fl? *?P *?r *?? *^? "fc 

Ond hwyau rhoddion ; ond rhoi iddaw ; 



19. Tri vry &c. the three indivi- the daughter of Llywelyn give." 
duals to whom the present ode was 31. dengrod (deg-grod), ten groats, 

addressed. or three and fourpence. 

nwyntiaw pob dyn, " to anoint each 33. »V ddwysir, here, probably, the 

man with oil" with the view of ren- counties of Caermarthen and Cardi- 

dering the limbs both active and gan. 
supple. 34. Gwawrddydd, one of the daugh- 

21. Mae'n wardiaw arnam, he ters of Brychan, the wife of Cadell 
guards, or watches, over us. Deyrnllwg, and mother of St. Cyng- 

22. maner Deilaw =maenor Deilo. en. Gwenllian is here complimented 
27. Tyn merch Llywelyn, &c. by being called the Gwawrddydd of 

" Assiduously above all others did Caio. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 199 

Dyn val eginyn yn eginaw sydd, 
Davydd val cynnydd Huail ab Caw. 

Mai prenau graddau yn gwreiddiaw benditb, 44 

Mai gwenith ar wlith ; mal coed ar wlaw ; 
Da Wiliam Vychan yn adeiliaw glan 
Da yw Gwenllian deg i'm llywiaw. 

Da Davydd drydydd, da draw ; da yma ; 48 

Da am wttresa ydyw i'in trwsiaw ; 

Tad, mam, mab dinam, a dal deunaw'n un, 

Tir y sydd iddyn' teiroes iddaw. 

A hiroes i'r ddau i'm hiriaw beunydd, 52 

A hir lawenydd nos, dydd, y daw ; 

Ac iddynt iechyd rhag dygwyddaw'n baint, 

Ac eto henaint i gytunaw. 

Hyn vo Gwenllian no hydd ; ac eilwaith, 56 

Gwilym vo un gynnydd ; 
Hyn noV bynav vo Davydd ; 
AY hynav oil o'r rhai'n vydd. 

E a vydd Davydd yn diva y gwin, 60 

Gwanwyn, Mai, Gorpbena' ; 
Minnau'n ol, mab deddvol da, 
Yn was moel yn ysmala. 



44. Huail ab Caw, brother of Gil- decapitated by Arthur's command at 
das ab Caw. He is said to have been Rhuthyn. 



O 4 



200 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

X. 

I DAVYDD AB TOMAS VYCHAN. 



" Let the bard who traverses the world but go to Cynwyl Caio during 
festival, and he will soon see whether any thing can induce him to quit tl 
place, or not. As for myself, in consequence of the great kindness shew 
me there, I always find it difficult to quit the place. It is therefore wron^ 
if not folly, in any one to doubt meeting with a hospitable reception in th 
hundred of Caio ! The one God upon a spot of land created Caio as his che 
d'eeuvre." 

The above sketch may give the reader some idea of the opening part o 
the poem. The rest is taken up in praise of David ab Thomas Vaughan. 



Aed y bardd a rodio byd 

I Gynwy] Gaio enyd ; 

Na ddoed led ei droed yr wyl 3 

Neu led gwaun, o wlad Gynwyl ; 4 

Minnau ni ddov, os mynav, 

O Gynwyl hyd ganol hav ; 

Camwedd, a gwagedd, a gau, 

Cymmwd Gaio ! ei hammau ; s 

A'r un Duw ar rwn o dir, 

A wnaeth Gaio'n waith gywir. 

Isag oedd mewn curas gwyn 

Wedi adail Rhyd Odyn ; 12 

Mab i Isag oedd Iago, 

Marchogion vu'i veibion vo. 



X. Addressed to David ab Thomas A branch of this prolific tribe were 

Vaughan, of the hundred of Caio. the ancestors of the family of Rhyd 

He is apparently connected with the Odyn (rather Rhyd Odwyn), now 

Vaughans mentioned in the poems Edwinsford, in the parish of Llan 

Dosp. III. 4, 5, 9. They formed a Sawel, on the river Cothi. Several of 

numerous tribe ; for the bard says this family, in late times, represented 

(lines 17, 18), alluding to the twelve their country in parliament, 
tribes of Israel, 13. Iago, or James, is still a family 

Mae'r deuddeg Uwyth yn Nghaeaw, nam e at Edwin'sford. 

A phob llwyth yn wyth, neu naw. 



i 



Y DOSPARTH III. 201 

Caio ei hun, dalvainc hael, 

Yw Na'sreth wen, neu Israel ; 16 

Mae'r deuddeg llwyth yn Nghaeaw, 

Mae pob llwyth yn wyth, neu naw ; 

Mae yno bob hwsmonaetli 

Morgan o'r muriau a'i gwnaeth. 20 

Addev ach Davydd Vychan 

Y mae'r brut val am ry w Bran ; 

I Domas, wedi Emyr 

Llydaw, y rhoed Haw mab Llyr ; 24 

Davydd o'i waed ev a ddoeth, 

Drwy ei ach ev, i dra chy voeth ; 

I Domas, o waed amhur, 

Nid oedd werth y nodwydd ddur; 28 

Esrom Davydd ab Tomas, 

Neu Esau, y w yn y sias ; 

A'i-bryd ev obry Davydd 

Pryd ar vath Peredur vydd ; 32 

Un gwr hwnw a garwn, 

A Davydd hyd vedd yw hwn ; 

Un vrig bendevig Rhys Du, 

Ac on oedd i gynnyddu. 36 

A vago'r hav o egin 

O Ronwy Goch a ran gwin ; 



19. hw smonaeth —gooA. farming. Britain as reformers of the Christian 

20. Morgan o y r muriau, &c. that church, after they were conducted to 
is, Morgan drained wet lands with this island by Garmon and Cadvan. 
the materials procured from the walls. 24. mab Llyr, " the son of Llyr." 

" Several bricks have been dug up Bran, son of Llyr, was the father of 

in the vicinity of Caio with the ini- the celebrated Caradog, or Caractacus. 

tials of Roman names inscribed on He is also called Bran Vendigaid, or 

them. And tradition asserts that the Bran the blessed ; and by the poets, 

number of Roman brick edifices in Bendigeid - Vran, and Bendigeidran. 

the neighbourhood were anciently so He was so called because he brought 

considerable, that they were deno- the gospel from Rome to Britain, 

minated y Drev Goch yn Neheubarth, when he returned from his detain- 

or the Red Town in South Wales." ment as a hostage for the loyalty of 

Camb. Reg. vol. iii. p. 38. his son Caractacus. 

23. Emyr Llydaw, an Armorican 38. Gronwy Goch was the fifth in 

prince, and nephew of Garmon. He descent from Elystan Glodrydd ; and 

lived in the middle of the fifth cen- David ab Thomas Vaughan, the fifth 

tury, and had several children, who from Gronwy Goch. 
were distinguished in the history of 



202 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Davydd, cylch dolydd Dwylais 

Ydyw ei wlad, a hyd Lais ; 

Cylchyn Rhyd Odyn, vy 'stor, 

Caio unsud Pare Winsor. 

Deuddeg arwydd yw blwyddyn, 

A dau a deg ydyw dyn ; 

A'r haul a aeth raewn rhuwl well 

I Ddavydd yn ddwy evell ; 

AM ddau vraich hyd ar Ddovr wen, 

A'i ddyrnau a ddyr onen ; 

Al wyneb wrth yr Annell, 

A'i law a wnai lu yn well. 

Tomas ei varddwas evo 

Yn vy w oeddwn, nev iddo ; 

Ni wn wyl oV dengwyl da, 

Heb dal ardal Llan Wrda ; 

Ni byddav wyl heb Ddavydd, 

Nac enyd awr, nac un dydd ; 

Ni wypwyv, drwy nerth Cwyven, 

Eisieu mab Tomas : Amen. 



40 



44 



48 



51 



56 






44. A dau a deg, &c. An allusion 
to the twelve parts of the human 
body, and how they are affected when 
the sun, moon, or planets, pass 
through, or aspect, the signs cor- 
responding with those parts. Aries 
(in which the sun is exalted, or has 
the chief ascendency) corresponds 
with the head; Taurus, the neck 
and throat ; Gemini, the arms and 
shoulders ; Cancer, the breast ; Leo, 
the heart; Virgo, the belly; Libra, 
the reins and loins ; Scorpio, the se- 
cret parts ; Sagittarius, the hips and 
thighs ; Capricorn, the hams and 
knees; Aquarius, the legs; and Pisces, 
the feet. 

45. AW haul, &c. "And the sun." 
An allusion to the sun ruling over 
the Zodiac, or the twelve signs cor- 
responding with the twelve parts of 
the body. 



47. ddwy evell, the twins, or Ge- 
mini, an aerial sign (in which the 
sun has power) ruled by Mercury, or 
education. 

54. Llan Wrda, a parish in the 
hundred of Caio. The church is de- 
dicated to St. Cawrdav, son of Ca- 
radog Vreichvras (Caradog with the 
Brawney Arm,) who lived about the 
middle of the sixth century. Aber 
Erch in Caernarvonshire is also de- 
dicated to him ; and another in Gallt 
Cawrdav in Gwent. Cawrdav em- 
braced a religious life in Bangor 
Illtyd. 

57. Cwyven = Cwyvan, son of 
Brwyno Hen, a saint who lived 
towards the close of the seventh cen- 
tury, to whom there is a church de- 
dicated in Anglesey, another in Mon- 
mouthshire, and another in Denbigh- 
shire. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 203 

XI. 

I GYNWYL GAIO. 



The bard is lavish in his praises of Cynwyl Caio. The entertainments 
at a festival there, in his estimation, were nothing inferior to those at York. 
He urges every lover of song to resort thither. He alludes to the liberal 
hospitality of Thomas Lloyd, and to the immense wealth of David Vaughan. 
He speaks of Thomas Lloyd as a beautiful composer of love-songs, and as 
possessing an amiable disposition as well as a truly patriotic spirit. 



Gorau un lie ger ein Haw, 

I leyg y w Cynwyl Gaiaw ; 

Mi a gawn ym o Gynwyl, 

Mwy nog o Iorc, yn min gwyl ; 4 

Awn i Gynwyl wen ganwaith, 

Ac yno aed a gan iaith ; 

Ni ddeuai hwn ei ddau hyd 

O Gynwyl Gaio enyd ; 8 

A'r haela 1 oil yn rhoi lyn 

Hir o dudwedd Rhyd Odyn ; 

Dyn yw heb, hyd yn Nhiber, 

Domas Llwyd dim us a Her. 12 

Mab Morgan yn mhob mawrgost, 

Mwy nog un y myn ei gost ; 

Ban Davydd Vychan yw vo 

Ben cywaeth meibion Caio ; 1(3 

Bid rhyw Phylip Trahaearn 

Bena' o'r byd ban ro barn ; 



XI. A poem on Cynwyl Gaio. here in connexion with it. There 

Cynwyl Gaio is 7 miles west north- were anciently chapels of ease at 

west from Llandovery. Court of Cadno in the north-eastern 

" The church, dedicated to St. part of the parish, and at Pump 

Cynwyl, is a spacious structure, in Sant, of which there are now no ves- 

the early style of English architec- tiges." Lewis's Top. Diet. 
ture, with a square embattled tower; 

and from its capacious dimensions, it river Tiber.' 

has been conjectured that some mo- 16. Mer, tares in corn, 
nastic institution anciently existed 



204 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

A chaned valed i verch, 

A chyrhaedded awch Rhydderch. 20 

Glyn Aeron, Rhyd Odyn dir, 

Oedd ei adail a'i ddeudir. 

Digrivion doetbion vifr do 

Oedd a aned oddi yno. 24 

A gair mwyn a geir am wys, 

Tomas val Tim sy velys. 

Gwna ei hun, gan ei hanerch, 

Gan' mil o ganuau merch ; 28 

A phob pennill Ebrillaidd 

I vedw grym, hevyd a'i gwraidd. 

Nid dewr un, er maint ei ras, 

Nid da ym onid Tomas ; 32 

Mae'n dda Mon a weddiwyd, 

Mae sy well ym Tomas Llwyd. 

Arava' oil yw ar vil, 

Nes ei ovyri, a sivil ; 36 

Ev yw un, pan ovyner, 

A ovyn barn a vo'n ber ; 

A gwna hawl, ac enwi hon ; 

Wedi'r hawl vo dyr holion ; 40 

Os barn, neu wys, a bair neb, 

Parotav y pair ateb ; 

Os aliwns a gwnsela 

I vwrw ein tir o vraint da ; 44 

Ar Domas rhaid yw ymwan, 

A'i bwrw hwynthwy obry'n y tan ; 

O dyd ei lawnvryd a'i law, 

Domas Llwyd am ais Llydaw. 48 



23. valed=a ballad, a song. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 205 

XII. 

I DAVYDD VYCHAN, O GAIO. 



Morgan of Rhyd Odyn is by the bard compared to a fountain ; and his 
descendant, David Vaughan, to a river issuing from it. And as the river 
u which went out of Eden" was parted so that it " became into four heads," 
so the four branches which sprang from David Vaughan, of Caio, the para- 
dise of the bard, were his four sons ; namely, Rhys, Thomas, Llywelyn, and 
David. 

The bard, after this, speaks highly of the virtues of the four brothers ; 
and, in accordance with the astrological notions prevalent in those days, he 
alludes to the different constitutional temperament of each. And then allud- 
ing (according to the popular opinion at the time) to four angels supporting 
the world, he speaks of the four brothers as being like them the stay as well 
as the protectors of the land of Caio. And in that character he designates 
them by the honourable epithet of the four saints, and that, in allusion to the 
four evangelists, whom the four beasts, mentioned in the book of Revelation, 
are supposed to represent under the different aspects of a lion, an ox, a man, 
and the eagle. 



Mae fynnon gwlad Paradwys 
A berw cTi phen heb or-phwys. 
Duw a yrodd i diriaw 
O hon bedair avon draw ; 
Avon dda ddigon i ddyn 
Erioed ydoedd Rhyd Odyn. 



XII. Addressed to David Vaughan, of Caio. The following extract is from 
a MS. pedigree, in the possession of Miss Lloyd, of Laques, Llanstephan. 

Phylip Trahaearn, o Ryd Odyn. 
Llywelyn Phylip 
Davydd Llywelyn 
Morgan Davydd 
Davydd Morgan 

Davydd Morgan Vychan. 

5. Avon dda, &e. It appears (from when the father and the son hap- 
lines 5-10) that David Vaughan, or pened to be of the same name, the 
Davydd Morgan Vychan, divided his epithet Vychan, or Junior, was fre- 
estate between his four sons. quently added, as in the present hi- 
lt may be here remarked that, stance, to that of the son. 



206 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Pedeir-ran o Vorgan vu 

Draw o hon wedi 'rhanu. 8 

Davjdd Vychan a'u rhanodd, 

A phob un viTn rhanu rhodd. 

Mae in' egin, myn Egwad ! 

O Rys du 5 wyr o ystdd. 12 

Nesau draw o Lan Sawyl, 

A wn at Rys hwnt yr $yl. 

Ysgwier yw, dros Gaiaw, 

Yno a'i wlad yn ei law. 1 6 

Mi wn y fordd, myn y fydd ! 

O'i dai ev lie mae Davydd. 

Dydd da i'r gwrda, bob g^yl, 

Draw ganwaith o dre Gynwyl. 20 

Ymlidiav yr hav, er hyn, 

Olau i dai Lywelyn. 

Henw y gwr yw Hen Gyrys, 

Erioed o Lan Wrda Lys. 24 

Minnau o bydd grym ynov, 

Mis i dai Tomas y dov ; 

Ei vedd, ei ddillad a'm v'ais 

(Be cov) yn vab y cevais. 28 

Ei dri broder a'm ceryn"* 

Nid cas gan Domas un dyn. 

Dynion oV pedwar deunydd, 

Wedi'u rhoi, yw'r pedwar hydd. 32 

Arwydd ydyw yr awrhon 

Wreiddiaw Rhys o'r ddaiar hon ; 



11. Egwad, a saint who lived about pupil of our bard, 

the close of the seventh century, and 13. Llan Sawyl (or Sawel), a 

had his church in Ystrad Tywi. parish in Caermarthenshire. Rhyd 

William Egwad, an eminent poet of Odyn (written also Rhyd Odwyn) is 

the 15th century, was a native of the situated in this parish, 

parish of Llan Egwad as well as a 27. -Ei vedd, mead, or metheglin. 



Y DOSPARTH III. £07 

A'i rinwedd, lie cyvrenir, 

Yw'n null y tad yrmill tir. 36 

I'r dwvr dealler Davydd 

Mwy yw ei rent no'r Mdr Udd ; 

A'i aur yn Nghaiaw'n gawad 

Dros dir ; ond a roes ei dad. 40 

Er hyn Llywelyn o^m 11 w, 

I'r tan y deiryd hwnw ; 

A"! aur uwch ben a enyn, 

Ni ddifydd tra vo dydd dyn. 44 

Am vod Tomas yn rasol, 

Awyr yw hwn ar eu hoi. 

Pedwar clo ynt, pedwar cledd, 

Ar eu cymmwd rhag camwedd ; 48 

Rhag rhedeg o Lyn Tegid, 

A cholli oil a chael Hid. 

Pedwar sant, myn Pedr ! y sydd 

Dan eu pedwar ban beunydd. 51 

Yr ail pedwar a welir, 

Ac a a dan Caiaw dir. 

Dringaw mae pedwar angel 

Dan y byd, val dwyn y bel. 56 

Caiaw, val diwreiddiaw dar, 

Yw'r byd, a'i phwys ar bedwar. 

Llew sy'n cynnal Mallaen, 

Ac Ych y dan Gaiaw wen. 60 

Gwr a saiv yn groes k\ wyr, 

Ac arall yn gy w Eryr ; 

A'i rhyvedd yw rhoi hevyd 

O Vorgan bedwar ban byd. 64 

Rhivaw a wn yn rhyvalch 

Dri ac un o bedwar gwalch. 

Tair oes hir i'r tri y sydd, 

Pedeiroes i'r pedwerydd. 68 



* LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XIII. 

I PHYLIP AB TOMAS VYCHAN, O'R ANNELL. 



This poem opens by alluding to the praiseworthy conduct of Philip in 
following up the noble example given him by David, his uncle, in the 
management of domestic affairs. After this he alludes to his being lineally 
descended from Huail ab Caw ; and also, indirectly, from Urien Rheged. 
He is moreover said to be a nephew of (Dr. Philip Morgan) Jhe bishop of 
Ely, as well as his heir at law. And he is spoken of as possessing exten- 
sive landed property in Dyved, besides many houses in England, and at 
Cymaron. 



Yr annedd wrth yr Annell, 

Ni wn i ddyn annedd well ; 

Davydd vu'n magu a medd 

Yr ynys yn yr annedd. 4 

Yn ei ol ei nai eilwaith 

A wnai a gwin yr un gwaith : 

Furvodd yn rodd o'r eiddaw, 

Phylip corf Huail ab Caw. 8 

I Urien (Teml Wynen Ian !) 

Y saiv ach Tomas Vychan, 
Phylip o ddeugyf haelion 

Yw'r ddar hir o'r ddaiar hon : 12 

Ei dad oedd vrig i bob dyn 

O Rydderch, yntau'n wreiddyn : 

Ei vam oedd vlodau am vedd 

O Einion, yntau'n unwedd. 16 

Y bel, nai esgob Eli, 
Ev a i'r al vry a hi: 



XIII. Addressed to Philip ab 17. Esgob Eli," the bishop of Ely." 

Thomas Vaughan. Philip was bro- Philip Morgan was doctor of laws, 

ther to Henry ab Gwilym's father and a celebrated ecclesiastic and civi- 

(Dosp. III. 4.) of Court Henry. lian in his day. In the beginning of 

9. Teml Wynen Ian = Myn teml the reign of Henry V. he was made 

&c chancellor of Normandy, and lord 



Y DOSPARTH III. 



209 



Ev a dal cystal ac wyth, 
Hyn a dalai'r hen dylwyth. 
Ni wnai gwaeth, yn un gwr, 
Yn y Deau no deuwr ; 
Dwy wlad dano vo a vydd, 
Dwy drev, a deudir uvydd ; 
Dau dda a lenwis dwy ddol, 
Da byw wythwaith, da bathol. 
Mai mab i Ddyvnwal Moel Mud 
Yw Phylip praf ei olud ; 
E vesurai'n briv saeraidd 

Y grwn a hyd gronyn haidd ; 
Un rhyw y gwna wyr Hywel 
Ar ei dir yr awr y del ; 
Mesur oil y maes a'r yd, 

Ac ei erydr bob gvvrhyd ; 
Cwmwd hir tair milltir raawr, 
Cant erw man Cantre Maenawr. 
Mae yn Haw hil Dyvnawal 
Yr erwi mawr a'r aur mal ; 

Y cyvoeth ev sCi cavas, 
Ac ar ei ol dawn a gras. 



20 



24 



28 



32 



36 



40 



chancellor of Normandy, and lord 
privy seal. He was, says Rapin, a 
person of great abilities, and always 
employed by the king in the most 
important negociations. From the 
year 1414 to 1418 he was sent am- 
bassador to John duke of Burgundy, 
— to the earl of Armagnac, constable 
of France, — to the dauphin of France, 
&c. In the year 1419 he became 
bishop of Worcester, and of Ely, by 
translation in 1425, which he held 
till his death in 1435, when he was 
succeeded in that see by cardinal 
Lewis of Luxembourg. 

y bel nai esgob, &c. that is, the 
bishop of Ely's nephew will surely 
bear away the palm, as well in point 
of extent of property, as with respect 
to his noble descent; for, says the 
bard, his personal property is now 
eight times as much as any single 
one of his family ever possessed. Yea, 



take any two of the wealthiest in 
South Wales, and you will find that 
he can himself compete with them 
both on the score of wealth. 

22. JVi wnai gwaeth, &c. = Ni wnai 
lai no deuwr. 

26. Da byW) live stock. 

Da bathawl, coined specie. 

30. gronyn haidd. See an account 
of the ancient Long Measure, such 
as " tri gronyn haidd," &c. in Cyv- 
raith Hywel Dda. There is now in 
the press, under the direction of the 
Record Commissioners, a new edition 
of the Laws of Howell Dda, accom- 
panied with an English translation, 
&c. by Aneurin Owen, esq. 

33. Mesur oil y maes, &c. From 
what the bard states here it is clear 
that Philip ab Thomas Vaughan was 
an enthusiastic lover, as well as a 
great promoter, of agriculture. 



210 



LEWIS GI/O 



Tir yr hynaiv, trwy raniad, 
A rhan o dir yr hen dad ; 
Tai'r gorhendad, aV tad da, 
Tai'r ewythyr val Troia ; 
Tai'r Sieb, lie troes y iaith, 
Phylip a'u cafo eilwaith : 
Phylip a gaif ei weled 
Yn nhai Sais ; aen hwy i sied. 
Cymered dai Cymaron 

Y gan vab gwinau o Von ; 
Ni'm gad Phylip gredadwy 
O dy'r medd i undre mwy. 
Nid abl ym onid ei bias, 
Nid da ym ond mab Tomas ; 
Ni ddov oddiwrth nai Ddavydd 
Yni ddel y nos yn ddydd ; 
Yni ddel naw o Ddulyn, 

Yni ddel o Wynedd un, 
Yni ddel dros ddwr Mynyw 

Y du bach aV bwbach byw. 



44 



48 



52 



56 



60 



43. Tad da, a grandfather : taid. 

44. TaVr ewythyr Sec. In the 
lines preceding the bard enumerates 
Philip's several titles to his estates, 
such as, " Tir yr hynaiv — rhan dir 
yr hen dad — tai'r gorhendad — a'r tad 
da ;" and concludes by mentioning 
Tai'r ewythyr, that is, houses, situ- 
ated probably in London ; for they 
are called TaVr sieb. These houses, 
however, fell to him as heir at law ; 
wherefore the bard expresses a wish 
that Phylip oV Annell should recover 
them, — " a'u cafo eilwaith." In that 
case Philip, he says, would be seen 
(line 48) yn nhai Sais; and they who 



kept an unlawful possession of them 
would be ejected. Aerf hwy i sied, 
that is, may they (the former pos- 
sessors) go into any other place pre- 
pared for their reception. 

48. sied = shed; a shed of land, a 
portion of land, as distinguished from 
that which is adjacent. 

Devaid sied, a common term for 
strayed sheep, taken by the bailiff of 
the lord of a manor into his sied 
(shed) ground ; that is, into a piece 
of land set apart for their reception. 

56. Yni = hyd oni : until, until 
that. 



Y DOSPAETH III. 211 



XIV. 



I OWAIN AB TOM AS AB TOMAS VYCHAN AB DAVYDD, 
O GETHINIOG. 



The bard addresses Owain as one who knew well how to reward the 
meritorious minstrel. He alludes to his skill in falconry. He mentions him 
as being the grandson of Thomas Vaughan, who built the mansion called 
Glan Dwylais. He alludes to his being descended from Gronwy Goch, 
Rhydderch, and (maternally) from Llawdden. He calls him the chieftain of 
Mevenydd ; and in that character he predicts the victory which he, with his 
men, would gain over the oppressors of his country. The conflict, he says, 
in which he would be engaged, as well as the issue of that conflict, would be 
similar to that of Constans ab Ellen when he triumphed over the tyranny of 
Rome. He foretells also that an equestrian statue of brass would be erected, 
in Cethiniog, in honour of him. And, alluding to Adam's beautiful form 
when coming from the hands of his Maker, he mentions the comely and tall 
stature of Owain, who like Adam was of stately figure ; and like him also 
placed in an earthly paradise. He next alludes to his great activity, his supe- 
rior skill, and his unrivalled success at the Welsh games ; and concludes by 
again mentioning his noble descent. 



Y mab hwy no Beli Mawr, 
Ac a urdda ei gerddawr ; 
Owain yn mro Cethiniawg 

A wyr yn hardd arwain hawg. 

Y mae gras Tomas y tad 
Yn y gwr hwn, a'i gariad. 
Dov i gydag wyr Davydd, 
Hyd varw awn, od wyv rydd. 
Tomas Vychan o Lan Lais 

A adeiliodd Glan Dwylais ; 



XIV. Addressed to Owain ab 7' n-yr Davydd, " the descendant 

Thomas Vaughan ab David, of Ceth- of David." Owain's mother was Eve, 

iniog. . the daughter of David. 

1. Beli Mawr, or the Great, son 10. Glan Dwylais, a mansion so 

of Manogan, the 64th king of Bri- called. From the bard mentioning 

tain. He was the father of the cele- Llais and Dwylais there were pro- 

brated Caswallon, or Cassivellaunus, bably, and perhaps there still are, 

as he is called by Caesar. two brooks, each bearing the name of 

p 2 



212 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Tomas ei vab, mor rasol, 

Owain ei wyr yn ei ol. 12 

Eginodd yr eginyn 

O Ronwy Goch, val grawn gwin ; 

Ac o Rydderch y gwreiddwyd 

wenllaw aur Ieuan Llwyd ; 1(3 
Caterwen o Lawdden lin, 

Ceidwad ieuanc o Edwin ; 

Unben yw ar Vevenydd, 

Ei wyr vo'n goncwerwr vydd. 20 

Rhyvel Constans ab Elen, 

Owain a bair hyn i ben. 

A'i lun ev ar varch evydd 

Yn Nghethiniog (varchog) vydd. 

Duw a wnaeth ar draeth di drain 
Lun y gwr a'i law'n gy wrain ; 
A'i yru wnaeth awr yn ol 

1 Baradwys briodol. 28 

Gwnaeth weithian oddiar Ian Lais 

Lun a delw ar Ian Dwylais. 

Tai Tomas, dinas pob dyn, 

Yw Paradwys gwyr Pry dyn. 32 

Trigo'n y man yno wnav, 

Yno gohir gan 1 gauav. 

Diareb a oedd derwyn 

A ddywed wrth Dduw a dyn ; 36 



Llais, which signifies vocal, or sound- Vychan. 

ing water. The new house was built 17. Llawdden, was the fourth in 
on the junction of the two brooks, descent from Aleth lord of Dyved. 
Hence the united water, or stream, 21. Constans ab Ellen, son of Con- 
was called Dwy-lais. We have simi- stans, or Constantius, the 76th sove- 
lar instances elsewhere, such as Rhiw reign of Britain, by Helen daughter 
in Manavon. Two of the name of Coel. See Brut G. ab Arthur, in 
unite ; and the township lying be- Myv. Arch. vol. II. pp. 207, 208. 
tween them is called Dwy-Riw. Also 25. Duw a wnaeth, &c. An allu- 
Dwy-ryd, near Corwen. Dwyvawr sion to Adam's creation, and to God 
and Dwyvach in Eivionydd ; and on placing him in Paradise, 
the bank of the united streams is situ- 32. Prydyn, properly Scotland; 
ated Llanystumdwy. but it here stands for Britain in ge- 

12. Owain ei wyr, &c. that is, neral. 
Owain the grandson of Thomas 



Y DOSPAETH III. 



213 



" Cabla'th vro dda i'm g^vydd i, 
A'th randir, a thro yndi." 

Mi av i droi'n y cwrt main, 

A'r ddaiar ydd a Owain 40 

Ac ar ei ol, i Gaer Wen ; 

Ac weithiau i Lan Gathen. 

Edrych arno ev ; hevyd 

Ar y bar yn gadaw'r byd. 44 

Ar redeg gorau ydyw, 

Ar vaen, ac ar vwa Yw. 

Y priv achoedd a oeddyn' 

Ach Owain deg uwch no dyn. 48 

Achau y tad o chaid dydd, 

Achoedd Eva verch Ddavydd. 

Tomas dda, ac Eva i gyd, 

Vo gan" hav ac un hevyd. 52 

Duw y rhawg i adu' rhai'n, 

A Duw i adaw Owain. 



44. Ar y bar, &c. An allusion to if it would never be seen again. See 

Owain's strength in hurling the lever an account of the Welsh games in 

(tavlu trosol haiarn oddiar vlaen Dr. Davies's Welsh-Latin Diet. 
troed), which went with such force as 



214 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XV. 

I HYWEL AB DAVYDD AB GORONWY, O WERNAN, 
YN NHREV DREYR, CEREDIGION. 



The character which the bard gives to Howell ab David is that of a power- 
ful warrior, who had at his command intrepid spearmen. He mentions his 
love of the chase ; his generous hospitality ; and the noble mansion he had 
built, in which wealth abounded and every comfort reigned. He then alludes 
to his descent from Idwal, Tewdwr, Llawdden ; and from Elystan Glodrydd, 
earl of Hereford. After this he speaks of the great physical strength of his 
hero, and of the many extraordinary feats which he had done. And, in con- 
clusion, the bard ranks him with some of the most celebrated heroes of an- 
cient times. 



Y gwr teg a'r gweywyr tan, 
Ac a rwym gwyr i ymwan ; 
Hywel hael a gar hely hydd, 
Hwn a dyv yn rhan Davydd ; 
Hwn a ran, o hen Ronwy, 
Gwin ac aur val eigion Gwy. 
Eva ran gan oV gwenith 
Vry os iach ev, wyr Rhys Chwith ! 
Ev o Wernan a varnodd 
I bawb ei ran, bob ei rodd. 
Draw y gwnaeth yn Nhre Dreyr 
Dai^ swrn val deunaw o syr ; 
Ugain ty ag un toad, 
Ac yn y ty gwin y tad ; 
Pob rhyw vedd, pob rhyw vyddin, 
Pob rhai a yv pob rhyw win, 



12 



16 



XV. Addressed to Howell ab Da- 
vid ab Goronwy, of Gwernan (Gwern- 
nant), now Alderbrook Hall, in the 
parish of Tre Dreyr (now corruptly 
called Troed yr Aur), in the county 
of Cardigan. 



6. val eigion Gwy, " as plentiful as 
the water in the river Wye." 

8. wyr Rhys Chwith, " the grand- 
son of Rhys Chwith." Rhys Chwith 
was the maternal grandfather of 
Howell ab David. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 215 

Pob rhyw lyn, pob rhuwl uniawn, 

Pob rhyw wledd, pob baril lawn. 

Bonedd Hywel yn benav 

Val bonedd Gwynedd a gav : 20 

Myn y dydd ! y mae'n ei dal 

Rhan o waed yr hen Idwal. 

Tri arglwydd, chweugeinmlwydd gynt, 

Gwaed iddo i gyd oeddynt ; 24 

Tewdwr, Llawdden wr o'r Nordd, 

Arall unfurv Iarll Henfordd. 

Tarian Elystan val ia, 

Iddo hon a ddihuna; 28 

Ac ynddi'n meistroli'r drin, 

Ben baedd yn erbyn byddin. 

Yr ydoedd er ei adael 

Ddur a chorf i Rydderch Hael ; 32 

Cynneddvau ei gleddau glan 

A ddyg arno, hydd Gwernan ! 

Mae rhad yn llaw'r penadur, 

Ac yn y dwrn egni dur ; 36 

Mae'n ei vraich, myn y Vair wen ! 

Awch i dori chwe derwen. 

Saint gynt a wisgynt yn iawn, 

O'r un sin harnais uniawn ; 40 

Ac a wneynt val y gwnai wyr, 

Ac a wywynt eu gweywyr. 

Nyddu coed ar Vynydd Cam 

A wna Huw'n ei wn haiarn ; 44 

17. Rhuwl = rheol: regulation. Elystan's two Coates quartered. A. 

27. Tarian Elystan, &c. " the 3 boar's heads cobazed S. langued G. 

shield of arms of Elystan Glodrydd tusked Or. His mother's Coat, Parted 

(the brilliancy of which appeared as per Bend sinister Ermine and Er- 

bright and shining as that of a flake mines, over all, a Lyon rampant Or." 

of ice in the sun,) will be revived Vaughan's British Antiquities Re- 

(resumed) by Howell ab David." vived, p. 75- See also Dosp. I. T. 52. 

" Elystan Glodrydd, the fourth 43. Nyddu coed, an allusion to the 

royal tribe, was prince of the country great strength of Howell, who could 

between Wy and Severne. He was bend, twist, or rend the trees in a 

the son of Cyhelyn ap Ivor, by forest ; like Milo the Crotonian. 

Rhieingar the daughter and heir of Mynydd Carn, is situated to the 

Gronw ap Tuder Trevor, from whom south of Crickhowell. This moun- 

he had derived to him the title of the tain is represented by our author as 

earldom of Hereford. Athelstan, being formerly a forest, 

king of England, was his godfather. 44. Huw = Hywel (ab Davydd). 

p 4 



216 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Bwrw deulu, lie bo'r dolur, 
Bwrw uchod wyth a'r braich dur. 
Pan vu, a llu yn eu lladd, 
Ar Gam Ian wyr ac ymladd ; 
Dervel o hyd ei arvau 
A ranai ddur yno'n ddau ; 
Dervel Is Coed ar vaels caith 
A dreuliai y dur eilwaith. 
Pedrog Llan Dyvriog vryn 
Yw'r milwr a'i way w melyn ; 
Syr Fwg a'i gwrser, a'i fon, 
Sain Sior iscTn is Aeron. 



52 



56 



48. Camlan, a river which divides 
Devonshire and Cornwall ; on the 
banks of which was fought the great 
battle which terminated the civil war 
between Arthur and Meddrawd by 
the death of both, in the year 542. 
Hence every furious conflict is termed 
Camlan. 

49. Dervel, son of Hywel ab Emyr 
Llydaw, was a celebrated warrior in 
the time of Arthur. He was present 
at the battle of Camlan, where he 
greatly distinguished himself. In the 
latter part of his life, however, he 
devoted himself to religion ; and was, 
after his death, numbered among the 
"Welsh saints. Llan Dervel, near 
Bala, is dedicated to him. 

There was formerly at Llan Der- 
vel " a certain old idolatrous image, 
named Dervel Gadarn," which was 
held in great veneration, and honour- 
ed with pilgrimages and offerings. 
Images of this kind had " engines to 
make their eyes open and roll about, 
and other parts of their body to stir ; 
and many other false juglings, where- 
with the simple people a long time 
had been deceived." Dervel Gadarn, 
with many more, was destroyed in 
compliance with an injunction to that 
effect given by Henry VIII. It was 
taken to London in the month of 
May, 1538, and burnt in Smithfield; 
" with which idol also was burnt the 
same time and hanged for treason, 
Friar Forest." " The image of Der- 
vel Gadarn, coming from Wales, was 
brought to the gallows, and there 
also with the foresaid friar, as is said, 
was set on fire : whom the Welsh- 



men much worshipped, and had a 
prophesie among them, That this 
image should set a whole forest on 
fire. W r hich prophesie took effect ; 
for he set this Friar Forest on fire, 
and consumed him to nothing.'' Fox's 
Book of Martyrs. 

There are some relicts of Dervel 
still preserved, such as a portion of 
a wooden horse, and wooden crosier. 
They are in the possession of the 
rev. John Jones, the present worthy 
rector of Llan Dervel. They are call- 
ed by the Welsh, — the one Cefyl Der- 
vel, and the other Fbn Dervel. 

There is a field above the rectory 
house called BrynDervel ; where, tra- 
dition says, the common people used 
to resort from all parts, at Easter, in 
order to have a ride on Dervel's horse. 
The horse was fixed to a pole which 
was placed in a horizontal position, 
and attached to another which stood 
perpendicularly, and rested on a pivot. 
The rider, taking hold of the crosier 
which was fastened to the horse, was 
wheeled round and round as chil- 
dren are wheeled when they mount 
a wooden horse at a fair. 

51. Dervel — ar vaels caith, &c. 
That is, David ab Howell (the Dervel 
of the bard) would lustily deal his 
steel on the cuirassed slaves (the 
Yorkists). Maels, coat of mail : a 
cuirass. 

53. Pedrog Llan Dyvriog, Pedrog, 
a complimentary epithet to David ab 
Howell. Llan Dyvriog, a parish in 
the hundred of Troed yr Aur. 

55. Syr Fwg, Sir Fulke Fitzwar- 
ren, a Norman baron, lord of Alber- 



Y DOSPARTH III. 



217 



Priav Tomas ab Davydd, 
Pwy raor hael pe am aur rhudd ? 
Nid cryv, nid cywir i wan, 
Nid grymus, nid gwr ymwan, 
Nid doeth, nid gwrawl, nid da, 
Nid tramawr, nid dewr yma, 
Nid taer byth yn tori barn, 
Nid teg ydyw, nid cadarn, 
Nid gwr hael dan garuV rhain, 
Dan awyr, ond nai Owain. 



60 



64 



bury. He lived at Alberbury Castle, 
Shropshire, in the time of Henry I. 

From the great success which at- 
tended him at tournaments, in that 
he always came off victorious, the 
Welsh poets thought that they could 
not honour their heroes more than 
by calling them Syr Fwg. Conse- 
quently we find David Nanmor ap- 
plying the epithet to Davydd Llwyd 
of Gogerddan : 

Mae E'n mynu mewn maenawr 

Fon drom iawn a phen dur mawr; 

Gair Fwg, gorau gwr a fon, 

Gyrai ovid ar gryvion. 

Davydd ab Edmwnd says of Rhys 
o Von, 

Llid enw Fwg llydan ei fordd. 



Our bard also frequently compliments 
his heroes by applying to them the 
epithet Syr Fwg. 

In Yorke's Royal Tribes of Wales 
(p. 3.) there is mention made of 
Grufydd ab Cynan having fought 
with " that hardy baron Fulke Fitz- 
warren." 

56. Sain Sior, St. George of Eng- 
land. Another complimentary epithet 
applied to the hero of this poem. 

57- Priav Thomas ab Davydd. 
Howell was Thomas ab Davydd's 
elder brother. 

Priav = Priam, king of Troy. Here 
a complimentary term. 

66. nai Owain. Howell was a ne- 
phew to Owain ab Goronwy, of 
Gwernan. 



218 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XVI. 
MARWNAD HYWEL AB DAVYDD, O WERNAN. 



In this poem the bard laments the death of Howell, who was cut off in the 
prime of life. " Now that Howell is gone," he says, " the wine, and the 
metheglin, and the sound of the harp, have ceased. Yea, over the Vale of 
Towy, and over Is Aeron, hath night spread its mantle of darkness. The 
country laments after Howell with the lamentation of Adam and Eve over 
Abel ; and weeps over him with the weeping of Cadwallader when he quitted 
his native land." 

The bard, after thus giving vent to his grief, mentions the three sons of 
Howell ; and concludes by alluding to the happy state of Howell, whose 
spirit had fled to those regions where holy angels and saints dwell. 






Yr hael, gynt mewn rhol a gaid, 

A vynodd nev i'w enaid ; 

Hywel diovn, hil Davydd, 

Hwn ! A ddaeth cyn hen ei ddydd ? 4 

Mair a wyr, Och Dduw am ras ! 

Marwed ym am wyr Domas ; 

Un pader Annes Perod 

A egyr nev i'w gwr nod. 8 

Y vlwyddyn a vu leiddiad, 

I roi in 1 glwyv ar ein gwlad. 

Dialedd ar vedd, neu vel, 

Ydyw hi wedi Hywel ; 12 

Aed Clared gan valched vu, 

Aed Gasgwin da i gysgu. 



XVI. An elegy upon Howell ab David, of Gwernan. 

Hywel ab Davydd ab Goronwy= Amies Perrot. 



Grufydd Rhydderch Sion. 

7- Un pader, &c. " One Pater- portals of paradise to her beloved 
Noster uttered by Annes (Agnes) spouse." 
Perrott, his widow, will open the 



Y BOSPARTH III. &19 

Gwelais amser gan v'eryr, 

Y cawn win er canu i wyr ; 16 

Yr awrhon cael, drwy warant, 

Liw gwn du ; wylaw gan dant. 

Nos a wnaeth i'n nasiwn ni, 

A nos du i ynys Dywi ; 20 

Nos ver sydd yn Ynys Von, 

A nos hir yn Is Aeron ; 

Tebyg yw, er ateb gwyr, 

Droia draw i Dre Dreyr ; 24 

Cwyno bu'r wlad yno'n dost 

Ei hunben, a'i brenhinbost. 

Cwynaw'dd wyv, tra vyddwyv vyw, 

Am veistr, ac am vy ystry w ; 28 

Cwyn Adda, cwyn Eva'n iawn 

Am Abel un o'i meibiawn ; 

Cwyn Cadwaladr o Wynedd 

Draw, am ei wlad rym a'i wledd. 32 

Davydd vu ar ddeutu'r ddol, 

Gaer a chastell gorchestol ; 

Pump twr, drwy'r ungwr a ran, 

Oedd arno ; Nudd o Wernan ! 36 

bump hydd bu imp iddyn', 

Heddyw nid oes hydd ond un. 

bump dar mae pedwar pen 

Yn y maes o vlaen Moesen ; 40 

Mae'r pummed, yn un rediad, 

Yn lly wiaw'r tai yn lle'r tad ; 



27- Cwynaw'dd wyv, &c. " I will partiality to Romanism he was saint- 

ever lament the loss of a master, and ed, and has a church dedicated to 

of the pleasantry with which I used him in Anglesey, and another in 

to indulge myself in his company." Denbighshire. He was denominated 

31. Cwyn, Cadwaladr, &c. " The Cadwaladr Vendigaid, or the bless- 
lamentation of Cadwallader." Cad- ed. This faint-hearted Cadwallader 
wallader was the last king of Britain, should not be confounded, as he has 
He is said to have abdicated his been by too many, with the redoubt- 
throne, and retired to Rome in able Ceadwalla of the West Saxons. 
686, where he underwent the ton- 35. drwy'r ungwr a ran, that is, 
sure a little before his death, through God, the disposer of events, 
which took place in 688. For this 



220 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 






Mae tri angel Hywel hael 

Gwedi ev a geidw avael ; 44 

Grufydd, Rhydderch, ddau erchwyn ; 

Sion deg a lesa un dyn. 

Trimeib yw'r tyrau ymwan 

O'r un twr aV onway w tan ; 

Triwyr antur o Hywel, 

Tair oes ar y tri a el. 

O Wiriod y mae'r ddau eryr, 

O Berod gweilch a bryd gwyr : 

Sierubim, Seraphim rydd 

Draw i dyvu, derw Davydd. 

Mihangel, Hywel, maen' hwy 

A Gabriel yn y gobrwy. 56 

Hywel a Sariel, a'r saint, 

A Rhuniel, yn yr henaint ; 

Raphael a Hywel un hyd, 

Hywel, Uriel, un wrhyd ; 60 

Hywel sy'n angel o nev> 

A gwr yn y goreunev ; 

Yno y saiv yn y syr : 

Oed yr aur i'w dri eryr. 64 

51. O Wiriod, Wiriott, a surname. 



Y D0SPARTH III. 221 

XVII. 

I RYS AB DAVYDD AB TOMAS, O VLAEN TREN. 



Rice is addressed by the bard, as being his patron, and a warrior who 
wore a silver collar of SS. This collar, we learn, (lines 25, 26,) was be- 
stowed upon him as a mark of honour by Henry VI. Rice is mentioned as 
being a grandson of Goronwy Goch, and as bearing on his target gules the 
golden lion of Elystan Glodrydd. Alluding to Rice having built Blaen Tren, 
the bard turns astrologer, and mentions how the planets were favourable 
to his hero. He concludes by eulogizing the noble mansion of Blaen Tren. 



Er cael aur gwr colera wg, 

Y gwin Rhys a gawn y rhawg ; 

Ysgwier hael braisg yw Rhys, 

A bar wyneb yr ynys : 4 

Tarian vraith ev a'i try'n vriw, 

Tarw a nod Blaen Tren ydyw. 

Mawr ydoedd vryd M'redydd Vras 

Ar dernio rhai eft deyrnas ; 8 

Mae ar ei ol yma Rys 

Ymlaen canmil oV ynys ; 

Grufydd Sais, ei gorf oedd sant, 

Os yr hael Rys yw Rolant. 12 

Naw o vydrwyr ni vedrynt 

Heb Ronwy Goch roi barn gynt ; 

Rhys ei orwyr sy wrol 

I varnu iawn vry'n ei ol. 16 

Cavas grifwnt, mewn cyvoeth, 

Llawdden a r vwyall ddu noeth ; 

Arwedded mewn targed tan 

Lew o aesdalch Elystan : 20 

XVII. Addressed to Rice ab Da- maternally the grandson of Goronwy 

vid ab Thomas, of Blaen Tren, in Goch. 

the parish of Llan y Byddair, Caer- 19. Arwedded, &c. " Let him 

marthenshire. bear on his fiery target a lion from 

15. Rhys ei orwyr, &c. Rice was the broken shield of Elystan." 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ni'm cair^ petwn bedeiroes, 

O'i blwyv, mab Ailvyw, i'm oes. 

E vu encyd ddivancoll 

Eres ar yr esau oil ; 24 

Harri a roes hir o'i ran 

Ar Rys hir esau arian ; 

A'r esau hyn, val rhyw ser, 

Yn y twr hwnt a eurer. 28 

E vyn Rhys o vewn rheswm 

Roi'n Mlaen Tren aur melyn trwm ; 

E wnaeth Rys, yn wyth rosyn, 

Allan gwrt val llian gwyn. 32 

Tai swrn, aV to sy arnyn' ; 

Saith a wnaeth, oes wyth yn un. 

Ar Dren lwyn a'r derw'n lanerch, 

Y planwyd saith planed serch ; 36 

Enwer Sol yn un o'r saith, 

Yn heulwen ei henw eilwaith ; 

Luna, mae'n oleuni mawr, 

Os Luna sy liw Ionawr ; 40 

Mars, o hyd Caer Em rys oedd, 

Mercurius yn mrig caeroedd ; 

Venus yw'r llys uwchlawV Hall, 

Subiter ysbytty arall ; 44 

Seren Rhys, ar ei iawn ran, 

Saturnus tai o Wernan. 

Heb weddu'n Llan y Byddair, 

Llundain oil yn dai a wnair ; 48 

Wrth lys Rhys, wrth liw ser oedd, 

Llys Hu Gadarn llesg ydoedd ; 

Lie lliwiwyd graddau'r neuadd, 

liw aur Groeg, lawer gradd ; 52 

Gradd ty Hu val gwraidd tywys, 

Hono y Wx radd yn nhy Rhys ; 



22. mab Ailvyw, " the son of El- churches, in the seventh century, 
vey." Ailvyw, a saint, the son of Here a complimentary term applied 
Durdan, and a founder of some to Rice ab David. 



Y DOSPARTH III, 



Mae o'r radd i mi roddion 

Ar neuadd hir newydd hon ; 56 

Ni wn gornel heb seler, 

A heb naw pib o win per ; 

Wrth son am Von yn vynych 

Vlaen Tren cav lanter wych ; 60 
Wrth weled balched y byd, 

A llu gwyr rhiv Lloegr hevyd ; 
Ar v'enaid ! o wyr v'ynys 

1 mi nid rbaid mwy ond Rhys. 64 



LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

XVIII. 

I RYS AB DAVYDD, LWYN TREN. 



The bard asks what land was there in Christendom which could boast of 
richer Avine than that which is drunk at Llwyn Tren ? What country could 
boast of superior timber to that which grows on the land of Rice ab David ? 
His extensive grounds, he says, abound, like Windsor forest, in oaks of the 
most luxuriant growth, as well as in other trees of every kind and magnitude. 
And to animate the scene, wild bees are found, in swarms, on his estate; and 
are seen sipping many a flower. There also is seen the stately stag in com- 
pany with his comrades, — whilst the melodious blackbird is heard to com- 
mingle his notes with those of other songsters of the forest. The heron 
nestles there, and there it summers. And the timid squirrel, the beauty 
of the wood, gambols in safety there ; and winters there. 

The poem concludes by the bard alluding to Rice ab David's noble ances- 
tors ; and by wishing him a long life, as well as prosperity to his house. 



B'le mae un wlad yn Lladin ? 

B'le val mab Ailvyw am win ? 

Ba lwyn ir abl sCn eurai 

Val Llwyn Tren velly, ond rhai ? 4 

Erw o wenith ar ynys 

YwV derw, a rhai'n ar dir Rhys ; 

Fair unlled hof yw'r winllan, 

Fenigl oil o gyfion glan ; 8 

F'rest unsut forest Winsawr, 

Fridd yw yn mysg privfyrdd mawr ; 

Blaeniau ysgubau ysgwar, 

Brig coedwig yn bare adar ; 12 

Gwe olas be nos galan 

Gwiail ir yn Uenwi glan ; 

Gwely isob brigleision, 

A savri ynt dros y vron ; 10 

XVIII. Addressed to the same ab David's two mansions situated on 

Rice ab David, of Blaen Tren, other- the river Tren, Caermarthen shire, 
wise of Llwyn Tren. Blaen Tren, 16. savri = savory, 

and Llwvn Tren, the names of Rice 






Y DOSPARTH III. 225 

Derw ieuainc hyd yr awyr, 

O'u bdn oil heb un yn wyr ; 

Glasderw, yn gan'-erw i gyd, 

Gwely sivys glas hevyd. 2 ) 

Maes a gair yn mysg irwydd, 

Maes o goed grymus, a gwydd ; 

Ac yn y maes o gan 1 mil, 

Y caed brwys val coed Brossil. 24 

Llwyn Davydd, gwinllan Dyved, 

Llwyn bron Celyddon oedd led ; 

Llwyn derw'r ieirll yn y Dwyrain, 

Llwyn Rhys yn unllun a'r rhai'n. 28 

Mae 'leni forest ddien, 

Mai on tir lore, yn mlaen Tren ; 

Fridd ydyw'r fordd ddiadwyth, 

Ev aV fridd yn vawr ei frwyth ; 32 

Mes heb na mawrdes, na mall ; 

Mesyryd grymus arall ; 

Heidiau bydavau, bob dair, 

Ac a'u beddau'n mhrysg Byddair : 36 

Iyrchod, ewigod, bob deg ; 

Yno ceirw is Pen Careg. 

Llyma y coed lie mag gweilch, 

Lie mae celliau mwyeilch ; 40 

Lie nythod crehyrod hav, 

Lie i wiweir drwy'r holl auav ; 

Lie gwelav Rys ab Davydd 

Yn llanw gwin yn y llwyn gwydd ; 44 

Lie bu Domas a'i nasizvn, 

Lie mae Rhys, llyma wyr hwn ; 

Aed Rhys, val yntau, y rhawg 

Yn Neheubarth yn hebawg ; 48 

Yn Wrlais Grufydd Sais hen, 

Ac yn Lludd, egin Llawdden. 

20. sivys =cives, a sort of wild 38. Pen Careg, a village situated 

leeks. on the river Teivi, in Caermarthen- 

35. bydavau — by duau, pi. of byda, shire, about four miles and a half 

a nest, or swarm, of wild bees. south-west of Lampeter. 



226 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ev a Rhys (dad i dad) wr 

Hyd at Rhydderch ab Tewdwr ; 52 

Ac o dwr Dewdwr hyd Ial, 

O Dewdwr i waed Idwal ; 

Ac o Rys, myn y Groeswen ! 

Ev a chwardd y Gilvach Wen. 56 

Aeth caterw, aeth coed dyrys, 

Aeth rhent Deheubarth i Rys. 

Aed teiroes y gaterwen 

I'r cyrtiwr hir o vrig Tren ; 60 

Ac i'r llwyn gerllaw ynys, 

Ac i'r imp, ac i wyr Rhys ; 

Ac i Rys a gar asswyn, 

Ac i'r llys wrth gwr y llwyn. 64 

56. y Gilvach Wen (uchav), a gen- 57. caterw, pi. aggr. (ca-derw). 

tleman's seat in the parish of Llan- Large spreading oak trees. Caterw 
dyssul, Cardiganshire. is synonymous with cateri. 









Y DOSPARTH III. 227 

XIX. 

I RYS AB DAVYDD AB THOMAS, O VLAEN TREN. 



" As the oak stands foremost among the trees of the forest, so does Rice 
among his neighbours. He is the generous one of the line of Maredydd 
Vras. May the blessed Mary protect both him and his family ; for when I 
was seized and laid up with a violent fever, and when shooting pains ran 
throughout all my bones, the kind-hearted Gwenllian the daughter of Rice, 
she who ever contributes to the relief of the hundred poor, supplied me with 
medicines whose healing virtue restored me to my wonted health. There 
were no delicacies of the table with which I was not furnished, and I was, 
moreover, supplied with the very best of mead. May my blessing ever attend 
her, and may my prayers in her behalf be heard. 1 was on the brink of the 
grave ; but I am now restored again to health and vigour." 

The above is a sketch of the first portion of the present ode. The re- 
mainder is taken up in praise of Rice's hospitality. 



Rhys, derwen Blaen Tren, blaena"' tras dwy vawl, 

Ab Davydd ab Tomas ; 

Rhys wyd a nwyd diwynias; 

Rhys, Nudd o Varedydd Vras. 4 

Urddas MVedydd vras vo ar air yt, Rys ! 

Uwch trev Llan y Byddair ; 

Oed Nudd, a da oH neddair, 

Yt, Amen ! a ato Mair. 8 

Mair cadw Vlaen Tren ; a Iago os myn, 

Gyda'r un ddelw gadarn o Ddulyn ; 

A'i holl dylwyth yri lie y delyn', 

A'i holl deulu yn lie y dilyn.'' 12 

A mi yn crynu i'm un croenyn, 

A'm esgyrn yn vriw braidd na mysgyn'; 



XIX. An ode addressed to Rice compliment Gwenllian, Rice's daugh- 
ab David ab Thomas of Blaen Tren, ter. 
in which the bard takes occasion to 

Q. 2 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

I'm byw a gwaew yn mhob gieuyn, 

A'm gwythi'n tori gan ddolur tyn ; 1(5 

Gwenllian verch Rhys a byrth can-nyn, 

A wnaeth gwyrthiau brau, mal Mair oV Bryn ; 

A mi yn glav wan mewn gwal veinyn, 

Hi a'm gwnaeth yn iach haiach o hyn ; 20 



Peri 'm adar gwar mewn plu gorwyn, 

Ac adar gwylltion werth bro Cedwyn ; 

A medd o Ogledd, a meddyglyn, 

Ac yn enwedig y cambrig gwyn. 24 






El iddi' mendith bob rhyw vlwyddyn, 

A'm gweddi iddi dra dy vo yn ; 

Y byd sCm gweles yn gorbedwyn, 

Weithion yn vrywys, megys myn ! 28 

Mae't Rys Tth ddwy-lys, gyda thelyn, 

A'm dda a genais, a medd gwenyn ; 

Oes clod yn Mlaen Tren val Rhydodyn ; 

Oes awen a cherdd heb us na chwyn. 32 

A bod yt gart-morc o aur Byrgwyn, 

Ac aur y Venis nis gwaravynyn" ; 

Ac aur Aravia'n grug a rivyn' ; 

Ac aur yr Asia val egroesyn ; 36 

Ni byddit teirawr, y baedd terwyn ! 
Heb ei roi yn llwyr wrth brynu llyn ; 



23. medd, mead ; a drink made of sum of money. Mark of gold (in 

honey. Meddyglyn (meddyg-llyn), ancient times) was the quantity of 

metheglin, a potable liquor made of 8 ounces, and was in value 111. 13s. Ad. 

water, honey, herbs, spices, &c. of our coin at this time. Bailey 's 

Bailey's Diet. Diet. 

27. corbedwyn, a wasp in its em- Byrgwyn, Burgundy. 
bryo state, and used as a bait by an- 34. Venis = Venice, a large and 
glers. The bard, in his illness, com- celebrated city in the north-east of 
pared himself to a corbedwyn, in that Italy, situated near the northern ex- 
he expected death to take him off. tremity of the Adriatic. 

33. gaix'-morc, " one hundred 35. Aravia— Arabia, 
marks of gold :" here an indefinite 



Y DOSPARTH III. 229 

Gwrandaw, val lluniaw wrth y llinyn, 

Ar rwymaw'r awdl orau yn Mrydyn ; 40 

Ev a welir Rhys, val y rhosyn, 

A'm d'eiriau moliantym d'aur meJyn. 

Er aur ni'th roddav, nac er Arras gloth; 

Nac er gwlad o'r deyrnas ! 44 

Ni ront imi, wyr Tomas, 

Ond noblau aur yn dy bias. 

Deublas gadarn, dwbl saig ydoedd, 

Ac yn rhydoedd gwin a rhadau ; 48 

Val ty Badarn, volt y bydoedd, 

Ac aur ydoedd a gwirodau ; 

Dod ar bared Siarls sC'i siared, 

A Hew Dared, a'i holl dyrau ; 52 

Dodaist glared, er ein gwared, 

Ar gan* gared, o'r gwin gorau. 

Arwain, eryr ! o'r henwriaeth, 

Deuluwriaeth hyd elorau ; 56 

Ac ar werwyr gwnewch garwriaeth, 

A chosbwriaeth a'ch ysberau ; 

A phleidwriaeth rhag bradwriaeth, 

A milwriaeth yn moly aerau ; 60 

A chanwriaeth, a cberddwriaeth, 

A dysgwriaeth dewis gorau. 

I'th lys havaidd, wrth lais y ved ; 

Yr ai Ddyved, er aur, Ddiviau : 64 

Yn auavaidd a'th hen yved, 

Ryw Ednyved ! ward wanavau. 

Aer pan eler, doer pan ddeler, 

Aur a seler dros eu haeliau : 68 



45. Ni ront=ni roant, ni roddant. ble, the common people, the multi- 

54. Ar gem? gared=ar gan' car. tude. 

57- Ac ar werwyr, &c. " And 64. Diviau = Dydd Iau ; Thurs- 

upon warriors," &c. Gwerwr, pi. day. 

wyr (gwer-gwr), A rich man ; a man 67. Aer (iinper. mood), Let there 

of noble race : a warrior, a hero, be a going out. Doer, Let there be 

Gwerin, pi. aggr. (gwer), The igno- a coming in. 

Q S 



230 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ac i'th seler gwin pan geler, 
Ac a weler wrth gwyr golau. 

I'd tir enyd na ad trinoedd 

vvaith minoedd wrth ymwanau ; 7' 2 
Aur y genyt yw'r eginoedd, 

I'th ddewinoedd gyda thannau ; 
I'th lys gwinoedd rhag dryghinoedd, 

1 vyddinoedd sy veddiannau ; 7^ 
A'th velinoedd, a'th geginoedd, 

I'th werinoedd, a'th ariannau. 

I'th awenydd, o'th ddaioni, 

Er digoni rhoi deganau ; 80 

A'th lawenydd, a'th haelioni, 

Er hinoni ; a rhoi'n ynau. 

Ail Mathonwy o Euronwy, 

Wyd hyd Gonwy'n dodi gynau ; 84 

Ail Cilonwy wisg bibonwy, 

Wyd o Ronwy a'th darianau. 

Av i vlaen Tren a'th voliant Rhys, 

Ac yno'dd ys a gwin neu ddau ; 88 

I'th neuadd Ion, a'th newydd lys, 

I gael aur Rhys i'm eglurhau. 

Mi wn a wys rhyw enw a Rhys 

A nydd, ar vrys, onwydd ry vrau ; 9'2 

Ni wn na wys na bawd, na bys ; 

Na dyn i Rys a dyno'r iau. 



86. Wyd o Ronwy, an allusion to Goromvy Goch, whose name occurs 
Rice ab David being a descendant of in Elystan Glodrydd's Pedigree. 



Y DOSPARTH III, 



XX. 

MARWNAD GWENLLIAN, MERCH RHYS, O VLAEN TREN. 



" A star hath set — the beauteous Enid of Blaen Tren — the virgin daugh- 
ter of Rice is no more. Her spirit hath flown to the happy regions above ; 
and at Llan y Byddair her corpse hath been consigned to the grave. How 
brittle is the thread of life ! less lasting it is than the spray of the sea. Alas ! 
that Gwenllian should have been cut off with the month of May. Like that 
month, pleasant and sweet, was the life of Gwenllian. Would that her life 
had been prolonged ! But I am far advanced in the vale of years ; and my 
muse gives utterance to nothing but woe, for the setting of the sun of Gilvach 
Wen. Yesterday Gwenllian's voice was heard ; but to-day it is hushed. 
She was amiable in her life, and accomplished withal ; and her hand was ever 
open to relieve the distressed. A branch of an ancient and noble stock hath 
been cut off. Ah, how uncertain is life ! She was espoused, and on the eve 
of marriage ; but before the bridal day her spirit fled away ; and her body 
rested in the silent tomb." 



Marw vis hir? marwvu seren, 
Val Enid, draw o Vlaen Tren, 
Gwenllian, o'i lleianaeth, 
Verch Rhys at Vair ucho'r aeth. 
Ei bedd sy'n Llan y Byddair, 
Bedd val y byddai i Vair ; 
Seren Blaen Tren, blaned rhydd, 
Sy ynddo ; gares Wenddydd ! 
Breuach no bar o ewyn, 
Yn ei stad, yw einioes dyn ! 
Gwae vi vod oes Gwenllian 
Mor vyr a Mai ar y van. 
Yma oes raerch yw mis Mai, 
Oes rhyhir nis arhoai : 

XX. An elegy on Gwenllian, the virginity. 



12 



daughter of Rice, of Blaen Tren. 

2. Enid, the daughter of Yniwl, 
earl of Devon, celebrated for her 
beauty. She was one of the three 
exalted ladies of the court of Arthur. 

3. lleianaeth, the life of a nun : 



Gwenddydd, one of the daugh- 
ters of Brychan, married to Cadell 
prince of Powys, about the middle of 
the fifth century. She was buried at 
Towyn in Meirion. 

o. 4 



232 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Meistres ym yw 'stor y saint, 

I my hun y mae henaint. 16 

Gwae a wnai ganu awen, 

Glavychu haul Gilvach wen; 

Yn ei dadl echdoe'n d'wedyd; 

Ddoe yn vyw iach, heddyw'n vud. 20 

Addwyn oedd y winwydden, 

A da o ddysg ydoedd Wen ; 

Da ddoe a hael ydoedd hi, 

Doeth oedd ; vy mendith iddi. 24 

Yn ei dydd ni adai wan 

Aco'n llawwag Wenllian ; 

Ni adai, ac osai gwyn, 

Ar un ieuanc awr newyn ; 28 

Ac ni adai'r gwan oediog, 

bai glav, heb wn neu glog. 

Gwenllian, o Wernan wen, 

Rhyw hael oedd hir o Lawdden ; 32 

Henw iddi, hyn a wyddoch, 

Euron o gyf Ronwy Goch. 

Yn rhyw Gwen o'r rhagynys, 

Golau oedd rhyw'r arglwydd Rhys ; 36 

Dynion, yn ael Arvon las, 

Dinawal hyd yn Euas. 

Ymarver o'i phaderau 

Hyny a wnaeth hono'n iau ; 40 

Tua"*!* nev troi a wnai, 

Tua'r eglwys y treiglai ; 

Rhoddi, val y rhoddai vor, 

Gwyn a gwyrdd, gwn, i gerddor. 44 



27. Ni adai, Sec. " She would suf- ter of Clydno Eiddyn, a beauty cele- 

fer no one to endure thirst, — her brated by the poets, 
sparkling cyder was ever at hand," 35. Yn rhyw Gwen, &c. "Of the 

&c. family of Gwen." Gwen was a de- 

31. Wernan, Gwenllian was re- scendant of the lord Rhys of South 
lated to the Gwernan family. Wales. 

32. Lawdden, several families 44. Gwyn a gwyrdd,ba.dges of bard 
trace to Llawdden. and minstrels. 

34. Euron= Euron wy, the daugh- 



Y D0SPARTH III. 

Ammod vydd rhwym priodas, 

RhwymoV gred rym ar y gras ; 

Ei Haw ammod Gwenllian 

A roes o'i Haw']! nrws y Llan ; 48 

Ammod dyvod at Davydd 

A wnaeth bun wedi un dydd. 

Ac i'r nev, ac i gor Non, 

Ac i radd y gweryddon ; 52 

Duw tri a ddyg Gwenllian 

Doe o"r llys at Bedr i'r Llan. 

Duw gwyn, os dyg o'i ynys, 

Duw ! ar ei hoi adu Rhys. 56 



49. Davydd) name of the person to patron saint of Llan y By ddair, where 
whom Gwenllian had been espoused. Gwenllian was interred. 
54. at Bedr i'r Llan, St. Peter, the 



234 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXI. 

I DAVYDD AB RHYS AB MEIRIG, O BEN CRAIG 
A THRE'R DELYN. 



It appears by this poem that David ab Rice was a proficient in the Bardic 
and Mythologic lore of his nation. And it also appears that the bard and he 
were in the habit of reading together the poems of Gwion ; and that David 
ab Rice coxild explain to him some abstruse parts in Gwion's poems, perhaps 
the doctrine of Metempsychosis. 

The bard mentions David ab Rice as possessing two mansions, namely, 
Pen Craig, and Tre'r Delyn ; and alludes to his being a staunch Yorkist, 
and holding some ofiice of trust under Edward IV. 



Mihangel o Dre'r Delyn, 

Mair a'i gad yn Gymmro gwyn ; 

Davydd ab Rhys y sydd sant, 

Amheirig, am hau ariant. 

Pwy a garav ond Davydd ? 

Pwy a'n car ? corf Pen Craig hydd, 

Cywyddwr a ddwg weddi, 

Heno vy th i hwn wy v vi ; 

Vore, ucher, gwnav warchan 

I var braisg Ivor a Bran. 



XXI. Addressed to David ab Rice 
ab Meyrick, of Pen Craig, and Tre'r 
Delyn. Pen Craig (rocky eminence) 
was the ancient name of Old Radnor. 
To the north-east of Old Radnor are 
vestiges of the castle occupying the 
summit of an eminence, the figure 
quadrilateral with towers at the north- 
east and north-west angles ; and 
towers of lesser dimensions on the 
east and south-east. Sir Richard 
C. Hoare identifies this castle with 
the Cruker castle (Crug gaer) of Gi- 
raldus Cambrensis. It may have been 
the residence, or one of the fortresses, 
of Caractacus, the Silurian prince, 
whose father was Bran the Blessed. 



The bard is deficient in not blazon- 
ing the arms, as well as in not mak- 
ing any allusion to the pedigree of 
his hospitable patron. This debars 
us from forming a conjecture as to 
the tribe he sprang from. Two only 
of his ancestors, besides his father 
and grandfather, are mentioned ; 
namely, Bran and Ivor. This Bran 
was, probably, Bran the Blessed. 

Tre'r Delyn (literally the Town of 
the Harp), now Harpton Court, the 
elegant seat of the right hon. Thomas 
Frankland Lewis, M. P. for Radnor- 
shire, and one of the commissioners 
of the poor laws. 

5. Amheirig = Ab Meirig. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 

Gwnaeth perchentyaeth ein tir 

Gwneuthuriad, ac ni thorir, 12 

Ei dy gwyn, Be Dyw Gwener 

No Iau sy well dan y ser ; 

Ys ydyw'n well Ddyw Sadwrn 

No Dyw Sul yn ngwindai swrn ; 16 

Yn nhai y gwr hyn a gav, 

Er gohir, drwy y gauav, 

Pysgod, adar mewn bara, 

Pasteiod, hen ddiod dda ; 20 

Llanw wyth bort, lluniaeth ber, 

Llysiau siopau ar swper; 

Sewer o bob llyseuyn, 

Seigiau ar gwrs, a sugyr gwyn ; 24 

Medd a wnai brwysgedd i'm bron, 

Maeth hwn ag ammaethynion. 

Vy swydd, er hyd vo'r vlwyddyn, > 

Gyda'r Hew, bes gadai'r Hyn, 28 

Darllen ein dauV Uyvrau'n llwyr, 

Dileu son, dadlau synwyr; 

bai ddwywers heb ddyall, 

A'r naill wers ar ran y Hall ; 32 

Davydd, wrth gywydd Gwiawn, 
A'i deall ym mewn dull iawn : 
Y raae'n benaeth i'r draethen, 

1 ninnau bid hwnw'n ben. 36 
Oen yw vo o hyn i Von, 
A draig arw gyda'r goron ; 
Ymddiried y mae Edwart 

I wr a'i ddwrn ar ei ddart ; 40 

O gadw'r wlad, anvvastad oedd, 
A'r Bariwns a'r aberoedd. 
E wyr on Edwart vrenin 
Tori y drws tua'r drin ; 44 



33. Gwiawn = Gwion Bach, ori- is an excellent orator ; and may he 
ginal name of Taliesin. be to me my head tutor." 

35. Y raae'n benaeth, &c. " He 



236 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

A Dervel o Dre'r Delyn 

O'i vlaen ev val Owain wyn. 

Pan ddel y Gwyddel aV gwyr, 

A'r aliwns, avreolwyr ; 48 

Swydd Davydd, ddeuddydd, a'i waith, 

Eu treuliaw a'u troi eilwaith. 

Bardd wyv bob awr i Ddavydd, 
Od wyv, gwyn vy myd oV dydd ! 
Da o waelawd Tre'r Delyn 
Sy'n y mhwrs innau am hyn ; 
O dda a roed ym ddwyoes, 
Davydd sl'i rhydd, ac a'i rhoes ; 
Ac a roes, val un o'r Grig, 
A ro Mair i wyr Meirig. 



50. Eu treuliaw &c. " To reduce chace :" that is, to harrass and pur- 
their number, and to give them a vsue the enemy." 



Y DOSPARTH III. 237 



XXII. 



MARWNAD RHYS AB DAVYDD AB HYWEL VAIN, 
O VAELIENYDD. 



" Rice ab David was, as it were, the life and strength of the land of 
Maelienydd. Mournful was the day in which he died. Every rank of so- 
ciety — the rich and the poor — the bard and the stranger, were all alike sad 
on hearing the news of his death. Whilst he was greatly respected, and his 
company sought, by the leading men of his country, he was equally esteemed 
and beloved by the poor. And when the day arrived to pay him the last 
homage, and to perform the dread funeral rites, the eye of every spectator 
betrayed a flood of tears; and every bosom throbbed with excess of grief. 
Ah ! now that he is gone, where shall we meet with his like again ? where 
shall be found another to excel him in the pleasures of the chace, or in the 
management of the hawk ? Let the minstrel henceforth cease tuning his 
lyre, now that the best of men is dead." 



Val enaid a chorf i Vaelienydd rym, 
Ydoedd Rys ab Davydd ; 



XXII. An elegy on Rice ab David ab Howell Vain, of Maelienydd, 
Radnorshire. 

Hywel Vain was 13th in descent from Elystan Glodrydd. 






Hywel Vain=Angharad, daughter of Davydd ab Cadwgan ab Phylip 
Dorddu. 



Davydd ab Hywel Vain = 
[ 

I 
Rhys ab Davydd ab Hywel Vain = Elizabeth, dr. of sir James Basker- 
(the subject of the present I ville, knt. son to sir Walter Basker- 
elegy) | ville, knt. 

I I ~ | 

Thomas ab Rhys. Hywel ab Rhys. James ab Rhys, grand- 

Dosp. III. 23. Dosp. III. 24. father to James Price, 

esq. of Mynachdy. 

James Price of " Manaughty," dred of Cevn Llys, about six miles 

esq. served the office of sheriff for south-west of Knighton ; and before 

Radnorshire, in the years 1552, 1564, the reformation it was a religious 

and 1574. John Price, esq. of the establishment under the abbot of 

same place, was sheriff in 1576. Cwm hir in the same county. 

Mynachdy Bleddva is in the bun- 



238 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Mai Hywel, a'r insel rydd, 

Vain hael o vewn heolydd. 4 

Gwae vardd a cherddawr, gwae a vydd mewn hawl; 

A gwae'r sawl gwr y sydd ; 

A gwae dlawd gyda'i wledydd, 

Rys ddoeth ! o aros ei ddydd. 8 



Dyddbrawd cerddorion a gwirioniaid', 
Dydd Rhys ab Davydd ar drev ei daid ; 
Diranodd Duw oil o'r estroniaid, 
Doe, o dori cleddeu'r swyddau'n ei said ! 



12 



Rhan darvu o'i lu roi'n welyaid 
Cyweiriawdr i bawb o'r cywiriaid ; 
Cerddoriaeth sy'n waeth, myn Croes naid ! 
Canu a phrydu, myn bedd Sain Fraid ! 



16 



3. insel rydd, free patent. 

11. Diranodd Duw, &c. that is, 
God hath now put an end to all 
strangers partaking any more of 
Rice's hospitality. 

Diranu (di-rhan), to deprive one 
of a share, or portion. 

15. Croes naid= Croes nawdd. In 
addition to the explanation already 
given (Dosp. I. 20. 2.) of Croes naid, 
the following additional illustration 
cannot but prove acceptable to the 
reader. 

Croes naid is a term used by most 
of the poets, and applied to something 
of superior value. Accordingly, Lewis 
Mon, addressing Gwilym Vychan, 
says, 

Mai Croes naid rhaid dy vawrhau, 
Mae'n gwyr eraill man greiriau. 

Like the Croes naid we must thee 

extol, 
Whilst others are to be accounted 

as trifling relics. 

D. Llwyd says, 

Gresyn oedd na chai Groes naid, 
I gynnull da rhag enaid ! 



The following extract is from Rot. 
Wall. 11 Edw. I. m. 1. 

Pro Anyano filio Ynor et aliis qui 
detulerunt ad regent partem illam pre- 
tiosisimi ligni Crucis quce a Wallen- 
sibus vocatur Croyssexeyht ha- 
beant hanc libertatem quod non tene- 
antur in aliquo exercitu regis sequi 
extra quatuor cantreda. 

Warrington, in his History of 
Wales, states that Einion ab Ivor, 
Davydd ab Gronwy, and others, be- 
trayed their prince Davydd, brother 
of the last Llewelyn, to Edward I. 
then at Rhuddlau castle ; and that, 
together with the prince, they brought 
to the English monarch the Regalia 
of their unfortunate captive : and that 
among other relics they brought the 
Crosseneyht, supposed to have been 
a part of the real cross, highly vene- 
rated by the princes of Wales. 

Ross, in his Antiquities of War- 
wick, says that St. Neot brought this 
relic into Wales from the holy land ; 
but a Welsh bard, on the contrary, 
says, 

Diboen Elen Godebog 
I Gx-ed a gavas y Grog. 



Y DOSPARTH IIT. 



Dyrys vu Gymmru gynt a diriaid, 

Deuwaeth i gerddawr nog y dywaid ; 

Dygiad Cadwaladr gynt Vendigaid, 

Dwyn Rhys o'r ynys val i'r un naid. 20 

Dwyn Alexander ysgwieriaid, 

Dwyn hydd, dwyn ieithydd y penaethiaid ; 

Dwyn pen, dwyn derwen penaduriaid ; 

Dwyn dar i'r ddaiar o'r Tordduaid. 24 

Dwyn Ustus o vainc meddiannusiaid, 

Dwyn onwayw Rhiwlallt a'i hennyniaid ; 

Dwyn pen a chynghor y blaenoriaid, 

Darvu Duw Iesu y dewisiaid. 28 

Yna ei cwynodd y datgeiniaid 

Ac ennyn flam gwyr val y ganaid; 

A galw ar Gynllo a'i ddysgwyliaid, 

Ac wylaw yno gan' galwyniaid ; 32 

A lliv ar ruddiau rhai amddivaid, 

A llev a dolev gan y deiliaid ; 

A llu yn byrddu ddeucan' byrddiaid, 

A llyna oerchwedl llawn i eirchiaid ; 36 

A llygyrn cedeirn bob deuddeg haid, 
A lliwgoch vaner o vlaen lleygiaid ; 



By the above expression, the bard parishioners, and from to-morrow it 
meant that Helena (a British lady), will be exposed to the veneration and 
daughter of Coel Godebog, and mo- adoration of all true believers." See 
ther of Constantine the Great, dis- GalignanVs Messenger ; and the .Re- 
covered the identical cross on which cord for September 19, 1836. 
the Saviour of the world suffered. 24. oV Tordduaid, an allusion to 
The day of the supposed " Inven- Rice ab David being descended from 
tion of the Holy Cross " has still a Philip Torddu. See Pedigree. 
place in the Romish Calendar. In- 26. Rhiwlallt, in the parish of Llan 
deed relics similar to the Croes naid Gynllo, in the hundred of Maelienydd, 
of the Welsh princes are still exhi- Radnorshire. 

bited to li willing" believers on the 30. flam gwyr, a wax taper. It 

continent ; for instance : " The rec- was customary to burn wax tapers 

tor of St. Roch having obtained a all night in churches ; and also in 

small piece of the holy cross, a pie- the chamber where a corpse was laid, 
nary indulgence is granted to the 



240 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

A llugwy'n croni o vewn Uygaid, 

A llewygu o'r holl gywiriaid ; 40 

A sain uwch allawr gan bersoniaid, 

A swn mewn eglwys gan ysweiniaid, 

A son gwyr gwinon gyda'r gweiniaid, 

A siens yn ol y sens a wnaid ; 44 

A Letni o Vair gan ofeiriaid, 

A Luwt ac organ gan breladiaid ; 

A chynhwrv gan glych ac uchenaid, 

Ar arwyl eilchwyl mewn Uys galchiaid. 48 

Ei gwynaw ydd wyv, mi a'r gweiniaid, 

Ei ddevnydd, a'i wydd, a'i orddyvnaid : 

I nev yr aeth at ei henaviaid, 

Ei ddynion a'i blant a ddaw yn un blaid. 52 

Pwy a arver mwy o gwrseriaid? 

Pwy 'vagai'n ei dai o weilch dyaid ? 

Pwy 'garai vilgwn a bytheiaid ? 

Pwy vydd ail bugail i hebogiaid ? 56 

Boent allan gerddwyr, a bint williaid ; 

Bid waethwaeth y gerdd i bob doethiaid ; 

Bod Rhys oedd vlaenawr y doctoriaid, 

Barwn yn vyw oedd, obry'n veddaid. 60 

Gorau Rhys vu Rys, er pan vu raid ; 
Goran rhan vu ei ran o Varwniaid ; 
Gorau y dyddiau y rhoi am Doddaid, 
Gorau'n cael cerddau y penceirddiaid. 



43. gwyr gwinon, " men who sport days were the best when he used to 
their wine." remunerate the bard for his Toddaid" 

44. siens, sequence. Sens, incense. Toddaid, one of the 24 metres. Here 
57. Boent = bint = bjddent. an AwdJ, or ode: a poetical compo- 
63. Gorau y dyddiau, &c. " Those sition. 






Y DOSPARTH III. 241 

Da'n ieuanc, da'n hen wrth veudwyaid, 

Da'n vychan, da'n vawr wrth Vrytaniaid, 

Da yn wr, da'n vab cadwyn euraid, 

Da'n vyw yn rhoi can, da'n varw y caid. 68 

A da a roddes bob llawesaid, 

A da a gadwodd gyda'i geidwaid ; 

AV da a ranodd ar dre ei daid, 

A Duw a rano da i'r enaid, 72 



24$ LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXIII. 

I THOMAS AB RHYS AB DAVYDD AB HYWEL VAIN, 
O VAELIENYDD. 



This ode opens with mentioning Thomas ab Rice's family — the high 
esteem in which he was held at Weston — his worldly prosperity — his having 
children — and his efficiency as a magistrate. It then mentions that he pro- 
cured his ale from Weobly, and his wine from Guienne. And, in conclusion, 
alluding to his eloquence and ready wit — to his being a warrior and friendly 
disposed towards the bards, he prays for his safe return from Cologne, where 
he was, probably, at the time when the present ode was composed. 



Amen ! oes Sulien y sydd i Domas, 

Diemwnt Rhys ab Davydd, 

Ab Hywel Vain ; esampl vydd 

Ei vail win i Vaelienydd. 4 

Cynnydd Maelienydd am ei lun gwrawl, 

Gorwyr Madog Rhyscun ; 

Cledd uwchlaw bonedd pob un, 

Clust am clywai o Westun. 8 

Am Westun gyvun ac a gavas Rhys, 

Rhaid vydd son drwy , r d'yrnas ; 

Yr wyv yn son, er ovn sias, 

Eto am ei vab Tomas. 12 



Bu i Domas allu, bu wellwell urddas 

Gwr, arddwrn, ben astell; 

Ac i Westun mae'n gastell, 

O Westun nid oes dyn well. \Q 






XXIII. An ode addressed to Tho- the former part of the sixth century, 

mas ab Rice ab David ab Howell He and his brothers, Rhystyd and 

Vain, of Maelienydd. See pedigree, Cristiolus, came with Cadvan from 

Dosp. III. 22. Armorica. 

1. Sulien, the son of Hywel ab 16. O Westun =al\a,n o Westun. 

Emyr Llydaw, a saint who lived in Weston in Radnorshire. 



Y D0SPARTH 111. 

Ev a a wellwell val avallen, 

Ei vrig ywV goedwig i vwrw draig wen ; 

A*i blant imp a wnant dros nen y dengwlad, 

Mai imp o ryw had, mil ym mhob pren. 20 

Da yw'r llywiawdr a dewr a IJawen, 

Da"*!! wir a haelav dan yr heulwen, 

Da wr yw Tomas ar daren Rhiwlallt, 

Daioni Oswallt dan ei asen. 24 

Evo a orvydd, avoi aerven ; 

Evo a esyd cyvraitb Voesen ; 

Evo a wyr synwyr, somen" am deiriaith, 

Ev a yr cyvraith i vrig Havren. 28 

Mab Rhys a gerir yn mhob presen, 

O char offeiriad ddechreu 'fferen ; 

Mab Rhys a dywys, deuen' i'w gam, 

O char y Iesu'r ych a'r asen. 32 

O'i law ev a aeth^ ar ol ei ven, 

ern i Weblai lawer noblen ; 

Ei vragawd, wirawd (ystyrien'' !) a gav ; 

Ei win y gauav vu'n y Gien. 36 

1 brovi uchod ei briv achen 

Yn mysg aravwch y mae 'sgriven ; 

Ei davawd parawd, vegys peren, abl 

A wnai bob parabl yn bupuren. 40 

Ev a aeth, vilwr, a'r vath velen, 

A'r gair o roi \v gwyr aV awen ; 

O gaerau Ecswys gaerwen, i Lugwy ; 

O Vynwy drwy Wy i avon Dren. 44 



25. Evo a orvydd, &c. " He will 39. Ei davawd parawd, &c. " He 

overcome ; he will go to the field of with his tongue ever ready, and his 

battle." eloquence which may be compared to 

aerven=aervan, a field of battle. a luscious pear, could give a zest to 

34. erra=tal=eyvlog, payment: an every sentiment." 

earning. 44. avon Dren, the river Trent. 

R 2 



244 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ni bu wr unbarch byw a'r unben, 
Ni bu wr unnerth ond nai Bronwen ; 
Ni bu'n Ngwestun lun ar len a vai well ; 
Nac I. W. nac LL. nac A. nac N. 



48 



Ni charai enwi un ach i Ronwen, 

Na gwyr y Mars na geiriau men ; 

Ei vrenin a gar, vawr 6nen ! Dugiaid, 

Tri o varwniaid nis tervynen'. 52 

Trwy'r mor, Deinioel, teir-Mair, a Dwynwen, 

Tri arall ydy w trwy'r arlladen ; 

Tri brenin byddin ; a (thros ben) Cynllo, 

Yw'r tri a'i gwylio traW o Gwlen. 56 

Tri o dyrau o'r tair derwen, 

Tair o siroedd fordd y try seren ; 

Teiroes a ehynnydd caterwen vriglas, 

A saiv i Domas hevyd. Amen. 60 



46. nai Bronwen, " nephew of 
Bronwen :" namely, Caractacus. — 
Bronwen was daughter of Llyr 
Llediaith (of foreign speech), and 
sister to Bran the Blessed, the father 
of Caractacus. See an account of 
Bronwen, as well as of her tomb and 
urn, in Cambro-Briton, vol. II. pp. 
71, 72, 371- The urn is now to be 
seen in the British Museum, where 
it was deposited after the death of its 



possessor, the late Mr. Richard Llwyd, 
the poet and antiquarian, of Chester. 

49. Ronwen = Alis Ronwen, the 
daughter of Hors, whom Gwrtheyrn 
Gwrthenau, commonly called Vorti- 
gern, espoused. See Gwrtheyrn 
Gwrthenau, in the Camb. Biog. 

53. teir-Mair, the three Marys ; 
namely, the virgin Mary, Mary Mag- 
dalene, and Mary the mother of 
James. 






Y DOSPARTH III. 245 



XXIV. 









MARWNAD HYWEL GOCH AB RHYS AB DAVYDD 

O RIWLALLT, PLWYV LLAN GYNLLO, 

YN MAELIENYDD. 



" He whom I had often beheld at Rhiwlallt hath been borne to his long 
home, — even the descendant of Howell Vain. The hero, who in battle could 
make captives of his foes, and whose fame for valorous deeds had spread 
throughout the kingdom, hath been laid in his lowly tomb. When he died, 
a lofty tree was cut down ; yea, a stately oak in the forest of Maelienydd. 
Ah ! many and pungent are the pangs which I suffer for the loss of Howell 
Goch. No longer for me hath the song or the harp a charm to chase away 
my grief. Every merriment hath ceased ; and sadness hath suffused itself 
over many, and once joyous, countenances." 



Y gwalch, wedi euro'r gwallt, 

Hir a welais yn Rhiwlallt ; 

Nid ydyw heddyw ei hun 

Yn rhoiV gost yn nhir Gwestun ; 4 

Ev aeth gorwyr Hywel Vain 

(Drwy'r llu) i'r derw a'r lliain ; 

Ev a aeth megys dros vor 

O Riwlallt ar yr elor. 8 

Hywel Goch a heliai gaith, 

Ab Rhys hael o'r pwrs eilwaith ; 

Enwawg ydoedd drwyV ynys 

Wely pridd Hywel ab Rhys ; 12 

Pren plan yn "Llan Gynllo oedd, 

Blin wedi'r blanu ydoedd. 

Duw a geidw'n deg adail 

Winllanau Duw yn llawn dail ; \Q 

Ac a dyr hwnt gwediV hav 

Y rhai ieuainc o'r hwyav ; 



XXIV. An elegy on Howell Goch the parish of Llan Gynllo, in the 
ab Rice ab David, of Rhiwlallt, in hundred of Maelienydd, Radnorshire. 

r3 






246 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Hywel oedd bren uchel iawn 

O'r gwinwydd rhywiawg uniawn ; 20 

Pren devnydd He Yerenwn, 

Duw yw'r saer a dores hwn ; 

Tores derwen Maelienydd, 

A phellach gwanach yw'r gwydd. 24 

Tores tant a'r veddiant vu, 

Yn y canol, yn canu ; 

Tores bwaV da a'r dawn 

Yn ei annel yn uniawn. 28 

Syrthiodd gwalch divalch oedd deg, 

Gan hud ac e'n ehedeg. 

Diwreiddiodd pren yn nen allt, 

Myn yr haul ! mwya'n Rhiwlallt. 32 

Rhoed adav Rhys ab Davydd 

Oil yn nghor Gynllo yn nghudd. 

Carw oedd Rhys oV concwerwyr, 

Glan iawn, a^i saith osgl yn wyr ; 36 

AV seithved a'i vwyned vo 

A syrthiodd, Rys ! i wrtho. 

Pren oedd Rys o\ ynys ynn, 

Ac yr oedd ar saith gwreiddyn ; 40 

Iesu a'i vwyall noswaith, 

A dores un da o'r saith. 

Castell oedd ar vrig Gwestun 

A saith dwr, e saethwyd un ; 44 

Tores un eto o'r saith 

Gan vaen gwn o nev unwaith. 

24. A phellach, from henceforth. castle having seven towers, one of 

35 — 46. Carw oedd ev, &c. It ap- which (meaning Rhys again), the 

pears from this passage that Rice ab bard says, had been destroyed. And 

David had seven sons all grown up. then alluding to the death of Howell, 

Rhys, the seventh son, is mentioned the bard concludes by saying that 

(in line 38) as having died before his another of the seven towers had 

brother Howell. The bard (in lines fallen. 

39, 40.) compares Rice ab David to a 43. Castell oedd, &c. " A castle 

tree supported by seven roots, one of there was standing on a high emi- 

which (meaning Rhys), he says, had nence in Gwestun." 

been cut off. And (in lines 43, 44.) 46. Gan vaen gwn, &c " By a 

Rice ab David is also compared to a shot from a gun." The bard may, 



Y DOSPARTH III. 247 

Ami yw clwyv yn vy nwyvoch, 

Ami yw gwae am Hywel Goch. 48 

Ni chan un dyn iach, na dau, 

Ni chwardd dyn a cherdd dannau ; 

Ni bydd iach y neb a ddel, 

Ni thrymhai eithr am Hywel ; 52 

Pand gweddwon meibion bob mainc ? 

Pand truan pwynt rhai ieuainc ? 

Pand anhy vryd byd pob un ? 

Pand trist pob pant ar Westun ? 56 

Mae Hywel lie nas gwelwn, 

Mae'i eisieu ev y mis hwn ; 

Mae wylaw am y milwr, 

Mae nev yn gartrev i'r gwr. 60 



probably, allude here to a mangon, anciently used for the casting of 
or mangonal, which was an engine stones. 



It 4 



248 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXV. 

I LYWELYN AB RHYS AB SION, O VAES HYVAIDD. 



It appears from this poem that Llywelyn was (maternally) descended 
from Howell Vain ; and also that he was constable of the castle of New Rad- 
nor. He is commended for having purchased an estate which lay contiguous 
to his native place ; which circumstance, in the bard's opinion, augured well 
of his future greatness. Llywelyn is next spoken of as a warrior attached to 
Edward IV ; and as one of the first who received the king (at Ravenspur, in 
1471) on his landing when he returned from Holland, and also as having 
greatly distinguished himself at the battle of Tewkesbury, which took place 
on the fourth of May of the same year. 



Angel ydyw Llywelyn 

Y'ngwledd, os angel o ddyn : 

Ev a urddes ei veirddion, 

Yr hysbys walch Rhys ab Sion ! 4 

Wyr i Einion, o'r henwyr, 

Ab Hywel Vain aV pawl vyr. 

Cadben i'r Gaer wen ar wal ; 

Cwnstabl yn tecau unstal ; 8 

Natur gwr ynn trwyV gareg, 

Garw tir a geiriau teg. 

Tir a rodded, trwy wreiddyn, 

Yn bedwerydd devnydd dyn : 12 

Lewis, ail Elias hen. 

A ddeiryd Fr ddaiaren. 



XXV. Addressed to Llywelyn ab if Dr. Davies be correct as to the 

Rice ab John, of New Radnor, an- meaning of the word vyr, one might 

ciently called Maes Hyvaidd. conjecture that the additional cogno- 

6. a'r pawl vyr, " with the staff men pawl vyr was given to him from 

made of the fir-tree." Vyr, abies. his carrying a peculiar lance made of 

Dr. Davies. fir. 

Hywel Vain, that is, Howell the 8. Cwnstabl = constable. The term 

slender, or delicate, is reported to may here signify a chief magistrate, 
have been a dandy in his day ; and, 



Y DOSPARTH III. 

A bryno tir a braint da, 

Yn ei ardal a'n wrda; 16 

A wertho tir wrth y tai, 

Evo weithian a vethai ; 

Ev a bryn tir vo breiniol, 

Ac ni werth un coetgae'n ol. 20 

Cynnyddu bu, ac y bydd ; 

A vu can-nwr vwy eu cynnydd ? 

Ni bo llai ei vwnai vawr, 

No mil o Von a Maelawr ; 24 

Na'i ystent, na dwy-Went wen ; 

Na'i drethau yn y draethen. 

Llywelyn yw naill aelod 

Y Drev Wen ; ni'm dawr ei vod : 28 

Sev, a wnaeth, yn Maes Hyvaidd, 

Seiliaw grwnt ; a selu gwraidd : 

Dysgwyl oil, a dewis gwledd, 

Ar y cwmins rhag camwedd ; • 32 

Cadw'n vwy, val Cedewain vawr, 

YJranshes no fair Winsawr ; 

Troi casau drasau ar drwch, 

Trwy oed dydd tretio heddwch ; 36 

Ac os rhyvel, Llywelyn 

A'i law nid oedd lai no dyn. 

Edward ban ddaeth i'w adwedd, 

Drwy y mor, i dir y medd ; 40 

Llew Rhys, wrth roi llawer rhodd, 

Ei dri ban, a'i derbyniodd ; 

Ac ar dasg y gwnaeth basgwaith, 

Yn mron dydd y murnad waith : 44 

Ac yn Newsksbri dodi dydd 

A'i ynnill ev a'i onwydd. 

lawn oedd am waith min ei ddart 

I lew rhyhael gael rhywart ; 48 



30. grwnt — the ground. Seiliaw having had a grant of some of the 

grwnt, that is, here to lay the foun- crown lands, 

dation for amassing a great estate. 40. i dir y medd, " to the land of 

34. Y franshes — franchise Royal, possession." 
An allusion, perhaps, to Llywelyn 



250 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ev a wyr, can gwyl variaeth, 

Y llew o Ron wellau'r iaith ; 

Ev a ran Edwart vrenin 

Dir iV wyr, a deuryw win ; 52 

Pan rano pen yr Ynys 

Ev a bair ran i vab Rhys. 

50. Y llew o Ron, &c. An allusion to Llywelyn having been to 
Roan. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 251 



XXVI. 



I DAVYDD AB MAREDYDD VYCHAN, GLYN IEITHON, 
YN MAELIENYDD, I DDIOLCH AM VARCH. 



The bard, in the first place, compliments David ab Maredydd by giving 
him the epithet of Meirchion, and also by saying that he was descended from 
Athelstan, or Elystan Glodrydd. He then wishes him a long life ; and, after 
enumerating his many amiable qualities, alludes to his being of the families 
both of Cadogan and Cadwallon. After passing these compliments, he acknow- 
ledges the many obligations he was under to his kind patron, and especially 
for his having presented him with a horse; with which, and the excellent 
qualities of the animal, the bard appears highly delighted. 



Meirchion Glyn Ieithon wyd yn nydd a nos, 

Un asen Maelienydd ; 

Nid av o'm cartrev un dydd, 

Ond i ovyn enw Davydd. 4 

Yt Davydd, gwinwydd gwlad Gynan, mae rhad ; 

Ab Maredydd Vychan ; 

Dyro i bawb o dri ban, 

Val UstuSj arvau Elystan. 8 

Un rhan Elystan wyt i lu daiar, 

Deyrn Phylip Dorddu ; 

Hoedl y grisial Tth dal du, 

Ac un oes y gan lesu. 12 



I'th adu, lesu ! dywysawg gwinvaeth,, 
Garth Gynvyn, Gardd Vaelawg ; 



XXVI. Addressed to David ab a present. 
Maredydd Vychan, of Glyn Ieithon, 8. arvau Elystan, " the armorial 

in Maelienydd, thanking him for the bearings of Athelstan," which were 

horse of which he made the author gules a lion rampant reguardant or. 



252 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Pen Had Hywel ab Madawg, 

I'th rudd vy mendith y rhawg. 16 

Mae rhawg vab oedawg yt roi bwyd a gwin, 

O vrig llin Veirig Llwyd ; 

Mynu urddasu lle'dd wyd 

Mae'r wlad ; mor wrawl yd wyd ! 20 

Nid wyt troedig, na garw ; 'm Haw Gurig ! 

Na fyrnig, na dig, hil Gadwgawn ! 

Na llesg anuvydd, na thlawd i'th wledydd, 

Na chybydd, Davydd wyneb y dawn ! 24 

I'r mau'dd wyt ddeuwell nog agos a phell, 

Ac a da wellwell, hil Gadwallawn ; 

Unlled draw'n lie trig Davydd bendevig, 

Yw d'air a Meirig o dir Meiriawn. 28 

Rhoist sidan gannos y dydd rhoest diddos, 

A bore a nos a phob awr nawn ; 

Rhoist ym varch teirblwydd didrwm didramgwydd, 

Dy swydd rhoi gorwydd i'th vardd gwiriawn. 32 

Natur hwn ytyw dwyn frwyn yn ei friw, 

Dirwyn riw'n gyvliw, bod yn gyvlawn ; 

Gwrandaw ar glariwn, neu gainc y mein-gwn ; 

Dan bwn neidiaw yn grwn hyd Gaer Einiawn. 36 



22. hil Gadwgawn, " of the line of Cadwgan's arms in his second and 

Cadogan." Cadogan was an only third quarters, adding a chevron be- 

son of Elystan Glodrydd. » His arms : tween the boars' heads, 

argent three boars' heads couped 26. hil Gadwallawn, " of the line 

sable tusked or, langued gules. The of Cadwallon." 

descendants of both quartered these Cadwallon, son of Rhys ab Grufydd 

arms. Cadogan in the first; Ely- prince of South Wales, was active in 

stan in the second ; the third as the the busy scenes of his father's long 

second ; and the fourth as the first, reign. 

The earl Cadogan being descended 35. clariwn—Si clarion, a bugle: 

from Cadwgan, son of Elystan Glod- corn rhyvel : corn hely. 

rydd, bears these quarterings for his 36. Caer Einion, a hundred and 



David ab Mareddydd Vychan bore 



manor in Montgomeryshire. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 

Petai yn llawes yr Arth ar ei wres, 

Bry wiaw i arthes, bwrw rhai weithiawn : 

Val eilon mynydd y sarf hwn y sydd ; 

Val hydd o'r gweunydd dros gae uniawn. 40 

Val iwrch yn ei view, val twrch avael tew ; 

Val glan wyddvil glew, val Hew vo llawn ; 

Dov Ddywsul Ddavydd i chwi a chywydd 

I ddiolch beunydd, yr hydd a'r rhawn. 44 

Dy vardd ar dy varch wyv i'th gyvarch, 

Ein parch vydd d'alarch i'r llu od awn ; 

A gwr yt, ym Grog ! wyv, hardd ; Gardd Vaelog ! 

A gwas a marchog megys Meirchiawn. 48 



254 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXVII. 



I DDAVYDD AB LLYWELYN AB GWILYM LLWYD, 
O GASTELL HYWEL. 



This ode is taken up, partly, with eulogistic notices of the structure of 
David ab Llywelyn's noble mansion ; and, partly, with speaking in praise of 
the very liberal manner in which he entertained his friends. David ab 
Llywelyn and his wife, it appears, were not only hospitably disposed, but 
were also possessed of ample means, to entertain their numerous visitors ; 
for as the house was well built, and on a large scale, so it was also richly 
stored with the choicest of wines and all kinds of provisions. 






Brig llys gauedig sy Gaer Gwydion, gwyn, 

Ganwyll Ceredigion ; 

A iarlies hav yw'r Hys hon, 

Llys wen a llawes hinon. 4 

Hon yw llys dynion oddiar du Dyved, 

Llys Davydd a Lleucu ; 

Chwellys vai uwch o allu ; 

Llai ei win, o vewn, a llyn vu. 8 

O Gymmru ni bu ni bydd eu cystal, 

Er costiaw nos a dydd ; 

Mwyhau y saith, y salm y sydd, 

Velly'dd wyv, oil i Ddavydd, 12 

Tad Davydd, a'i daid da, (tyvwyd alarch !) 
Llywelyn, Gwilym Llwyd ; 



XXVII. An ode addressed to Da- go to six mansions, and yet not be 

vid ab Llywelyn ab Gwilym Lloyd, entertained so liberally as at Castell 

of Castell Howell, Cardiganshire. Howell. 

1. Caer Gwydion, a term used for 11. Mwyhau y saith, " I will there- 

the galaxy, or the milky way. See fore extol the seventh mansion," 

Gwydion in Dr. W. O. Pughe's which is Castell Howell ; for «* to 

Diet. David belongs the entire praise." 

7. Chwellys, &c. that is, one might saith =seithved. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 255 

Ac o Rydderch y gwreiddiwyd 

I roddi bath ; rhydd a bwyd. 16 

O'i vwyd a'i win, val neuadd Dinawal ! 

O'i vedd, a"i aur mal, cymal nis eel ; 

Y gwanwyn gwynav, cyn hau, cynauav, 

Hav 5 hydrev, gauav, ydd av He ydd el. 20 

Lleucu velly vydd 5 lleuad ei lly wydd ; 

Llwyn Davydd beunydd a aeth a r bel ; 

Llin i Siancyn Llwyd, lloer oil a eurwyd ; 

Hi a deilyngwyd o law angel. 24 

Arch dda a merch ddoeth, merch gall a merch goeth, 

Mae o drachyvoeth yn drychavael ; 

Mae ei haur i'm huriaw, mae ei llyn ym o'i Haw, 

Ac o'i Haw ciniaw a phowdr canel. 28 

Hi, a'i gwr priawd, oedd dda am ddiawd ; 

Ac ar naw diawd, gair yn dawel ; 

Rhoi draw'n nhai oV drev, sli edryd adrev, 

Ei arian mae ev ar win a mel. 32 

Tir a anturiai amnaid ar Rwmnai, 

Malmsai-ryw osai, a gwin Rossiel ; 

Gwin Frainc ar ginio ; gwinber gwin He bo ; 

Gwin a vo'm eto'n llenwi vy mhottel. 36 

goed Bwrdios gwin, ar unsud Reinswin, 

Gasgwin, Verneiswin, wrth vron wassel ; 

Cael camplig caled ; caprig, rhyfyg Cred ; 

Glared a Dwsed a Mwsgadel. 40 

20. Lleucu, the name of David ab 37- O goed Bwrdios gwin, " wine 

Llywelyn's wife. She was the daugh- from Bourdeaux in wood." 

ter of leu an ab Iancyn, of Llwyn Reinswin, Rhenish wine. 

Davydd. See Dosp. III. 28. 38. Gasgwin, wine from the coun- 

33. Rwmnai, Rumney or Romp- try of Gascoigne. 

ney, a parish in the hundred of Verneiswin, Vernage, or the vinao 

Wentlog, Monmouthshire. ciola of the ancients. 

34. Malmsai-ryw, &c. Malmsy- 40. Clared, claret. 

like cyder. Dwsed, doucet vin : sweet wine. 

Rossiel, Rochelle wine. Mwsgadel, Muscadel. 



%56 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Mwy win ym o wydd a roes, ac a rydd ; 

Ac a ry Davydd no Gredivel ; 

Mwy no Bach, mewn banc ; mwy no Frolo Franc ; 

Yw cost Hew ieuanc Castell Hywel. 44 

Sel Castell Hywel yw'r gwr llawen du, 

O Dywyn i Havren ; 

A Hew yn gwellau awen 

Yw, ac oen pawb, ac un pen. 48 

A phenadur du fynedig, 

Am oludoedd canmoledig ; 

Ac o'r ddeudir gwraig urddedig, 

O dri sidan yn drwsiedig. 52 

Dynion ydynt yn anedig 

Wedi eu gadu'n vendigedig ; 

Ac o Dewder lys gadwedig, 

Ac o Idwal oedd wisgedig. 56 

Pob rhyw adar purpuredig 

I'n a nodant yn enwedig : 

Sy o vwydau yn savedig 

A gai wawdydd vai dysgedig. 60 

Yn vyw rydain yn vawredig ; 

Yn vawr eidion yn verwedig ; 

Yn veirvv adar yn veredig ; 

Yn \6r adar yn vriwedip; ; 64 



A gwirodau yn garedig ; 
Ac aur rodau'n wasgaredig ; 






42. Gredivel, son of Ithel Hael, a thur. He was a native of France, 
saint who lived about the close of the 46. O Dywyn i Havren, " from 
fifth century. He, with his brother Tywyn as far as the river Severn." 
Flewyn, first presided in the college Tywyn, a manor on the sea-coast 
of Ty Gwyn on the Tav, in Caer- of Cardiganshire, near the mouth of 
marthenshire, which they established the river Teivi. Rhys, lord of Tywyn, 
about A. D. 480, under the direction is celebrated for his hospitality by 
of Pawl, or Paulinus. Davydd Nanmor, a contemporary of 

43. Frolo Franc, one of the gene- our bard, if not earlier, 
rals vanquished by the fabulous Ar- 61. rkydain, a fawn. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 257 

Ac oV adail cysegredig, 

Rhai yn rhodwyr, rhai'n aredig. 68 

Ys da adail gosodedig 

YdywY adail didroedig ; 

Ai gwell adail digolledig, 

Ai lledadail cysylltedig ? 72 

Y glas adail, yn glosiedig, 
Da, sy adail dewisedig ; 

Y crwys adail, dai croesedig, 

Sy ail adail Emrys Wledig. 76 

Gwelem adail yn glymedig, 

A'i wisg ydyw calch llosgedig ; 

Ac o , r adail egoredig 

Ev aeth adail divethedig. 80 

Trwm yw adail tai rhwymedig, 

Twr cariadus tir Ceredig ; 

Teml baradwys ; teml buredig ; 

Teml wen ydyw teml nodedig. 84 

Nid cul adail main cloedig, 
Ni thyr adail gwneuthuredig ; 
Fn oes, adail cynnwysedig 

Y sydd ; adail ansoddedig ! 88 

Y gloyw adail dirgeledig, 
O wyth adail sy weithiedig, 
Yn galch adail yn gylchedig, 

Yn wen adail yn enwedig. 92 

Mae'n wydd adail, mae^n naddedig ; 

Mae'n wal adail, mae'n weledig ; 

Mae'n gant adail, mae'n gnotiedig ; 

Mewn gwiw adail mae'n gauedig. 96 



258 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXVIII. 

MARWNAD LLEUCU, MERCH IEUAN AB IANCYN, 
O LWYN DAVYDD. 



"Plaintive are the notes which the harp pours forth in the hall of Castell 
Howell, now that the daughter of Ieuan is dead. She is gone to a happier 
state of existence. However, the loss of her will be long felt. Yea, at Is 
Aeron and Llwyn Davydd, and by the poor of Gwynionydd, will the loss of 
her be long felt ! The day that she died was a gloomy day to her friends, — 
a day of sadness to her husband. We also who are men from the land of 
Greal are so dispirited from having lost our bountiful benefactress, that we 
find no delight in the joyous song. Can it then be surprising, should our 
grief after her be as the grief of the nation when it lamented the death of 
king Emrys ? For Lucy was a discreet woman ; and in all her transactions 
she displayed a great solidity of judgment. Painful indeed was the scene to 
me, when I witnessed the assembled multitude on the day of her funeral. 
Woe is me that she is gone ! " 



Mae Lleucu'n Haw Iesu wyn, a'i chyvoeth, 

Verch Ieuan ab Iancyn ! 

Mae^n Nghastell Hywel delyn 

I gwynaw gwawr y gwin gwyn. 4 

Gwyn ei byd nev glyd ! gwae wledyddSp sir ! 

Is Aeron, Llwyn Davydd ! 

Gwae ni weiniaid Gwynionydd ! 

Gwae hithau'r Deau o'r dydd ! 8 

Dydd Lleucu a vu lie caem vwyd a gwin ; 

Dydd gwen-haul Iancyn Llwyd ; 

Dydd du ev a'n gorvuwyd ; 

Dydd llym rhy oer; dydd 11am rhwyd. 12 



XXVIII. An elegy on Lucy, 7- Gwynionydd, a comot in the 
daughter of Ieuan ab Iancyn, of hundred of Syrwen, now called the 
Llwyn Davydd. Her husband was hundred of Troed yr Aur, Cardigan- 
David ab Llywelyn ab Gwilyni Lloyd, shire. 
See Dosp. III. 27- 



Y DOSPARTH III. 



259 



Fr rhwyd y'n gyrwyd, bob gwr, i gwynaw 
G wen-haul Rhys ab Tewdwr ; 
Am hon cwyn y don o'r dwr ; 
Ewch i'w chwynaw chwechannwr. 

Gwr prudd oedd Ddavydd lie ydd ym, alarch 
Llywelyn ab Gwilym ; 
Gwyr o wlad Greal ydym, 
Heb awen grev heb win grym. 



16 



20 



19. Gwyr o wlad y Greal ydym, 
"we are men from the land of Greal." 
By which expression the bard wished 
to insinuate that he and his fraternity 
were persons from the circle of In- 
telligence, distinct from the common 
herd of mankind who ever move 
round and round in the circle of Ig- 
norance. 

Having only alluded to the Greal 
in a former note (Dosp. I. 33. 1.), 
we will here enter into a short his- 
torical account of the work. The 
word Greal is Welsh, signifying 
according to Gair ab Geirion, " an 
aggregate of principles," and in mo- 
dern language, " a magazine." Llyvr 
y Greal was a ponderous manu- 
script containing the masonic mys- 
teries of the bardic conclave; among 
the members of which were Taliesin, 
Aneurin, Merddin Emrys, &c. The 
Greal was full of legends and tales 
of the Arthurian Round Table, evi- 
dently written with a design to sow 
the seeds, and revive the tenets, of 
pagan Druidism. It was originally 
compiled in the Welsh language, in 
the year A. D. 717; and translated 
into Latin, as some suppose, by Wal- 
ter de Mapes, archdeacon of Oxford ; 
and from his version into the Nor- 
man French in the year 1220. The 
original Welsh has been lost for cen- 
turies, and hence the hue and cry 
made after it by the bards of the 
middle ages, who in fact must have 
been ignorant of its principles, and 
tendency to oppose the progress of 
Christianity in the land. Guto'r 
Glyn, about A. D. 1450, alludes 
shrewdly to its contents, in the fol- 
lowing lines : 

Am un llyvr y mae'n llevain, y 
A gar mwy nog aur a main ; 



Y Greal teg i'r wlad hon — 

Llyvr o emwog varchogion ; 

Llyvr o greft yr holl Vord Gron. 

" For one book he is complaining, 
which he loves more than gold and 
precious stones, the fair Greal of 
this country: a book of the famed 
knights ; a book of the mystery of 
all the Round Table." See Greal in 
Dr. W. O. Pughe's Diet. 

What little is known of the con- 
tents of Llyvr y Greal is through 
the medium of the translation above- 
mentioned into French, — the fruitful 
source which furnished materials for 
the Arthurian and Carlovingian ro- 
mances of the continental Trouba- 
dours. It is from the translation we 
learn the date of the first copy in 
Welsh, for it commences abruptly 
with its date; thus, " I, a sinner, 
was in a lonely place," &c. As the 
narrator proceeds he endeavours to 
impress his readers with a belief that 
the mystery of bardism was the 
genuine fruit of divine inspiration. 
This notion is calculated to lead us 
to the conclusion that some of the 
principles contained in the original 
Greal continued to be preserved in 
Wales by oral tradition from age to 
age down to the reign of queen Eliza- 
beth, when Meirig Davydd, of Gla- 
morganshire, collected what fell in 
his way, and committed them to writ- 
ing. His fraternity called themselves 
" Beirdd Ynys Prydain," whilst others 
termed them " Beirdd Beli," (Priests 
of the Sun); and latterly, " Gwyr 
Cwm y Velin," — probably a corrup- 
tion of " Gwyr Cyn- Velin," (wor- 
shippers of the solar deity). The 
very few that remain of them lately 
favoured the public with a disclo- 

s2 



260 



LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 



Heb y gwin grym heb gan' grod, 

Heb wisg werdd a heb ysgud ; 

Heb arian wedi'r blaned, 

Heb dda bath y bydd y byd ; 24 

Y byd heb vywyd a vu, drwyV ynys, 
Ddwyn aco Emrys oedd enw Cymmru; 
Heddyw, dwyn gwreigdda'n haeddu ei bendithiaw, 

Y daw'r ail cwynaw ar ol canu. 28 

Drylliwyd a diriwyd, daiaru Haw Nyv, 

Deau a chleddyv wedi ei chladdu ; 

Diluw dig ydyw ein gadu yn awr, 

A dwyn lliw y wawr rhwng deimaw llu. 32 



sure of some of their mysteries un- 
der the several titles of " Coelbren y 
Beirdd," and "Cwrinach y Beirdd." 

The " Coelbren y Beirdd,"— the 
Bardic Alphabet, or as it is some- 
times called, the Bardic Lot, is a 
very ingenious and clever invention ; 
and far better adapted to the Welsh 
language than the Roman alphabet 
now in use. 

Dr. W. O. Pughe received the 
Coebren y Beirdd as genuine from 
the profound antiquarian and poet, 
the late Mr. Edward Williams, of 
Glamorganshire, well known by the 
bardic appellation of lolo Morganwg. 

In the archives of the library of 
Jesus College, Oxford, there is a 
mahogany Peithynen, on which is 
inscribed the Bardic alphabet, con- 
sisting of 16 primitives and 22 deri- 
vatives, cut with a knife by lolo 
Morganwg, and presented by him to 
the College. Dr. W. O. Pughe, in 
his Grammar, has, however, arranged 
the order of the alphabet differently 
to that on the Peithynen ; and has 
also added five letters to the class of 
derivatives, of which additional letters 
he acknowledged himself to be the 
author. But the public have not as 
yet been informed from what source 
Mr. Edward Williams received the 
Bardic alphabet, of which he has been 
the promulgator ; not to say the in- 
ventor. 

At the Cardiff Eisteddvod there 



was not only an opportunity, but 
also an ample inducement, for any 
one to come forward to prove the 
genuineness of the alphabet ; but no 
one appeared. The probability is that 
it would be as difficult to prove its 
genuineness as it would be for our 
readers, except to the initiated, to 
decypher what is called " Cyvrinach 
y Beirdd," or the Bardic Mystery, 
which is here subjoined. 

Cyvrinach Beirdd Ynys Pryd- 
ain. 

Enw Duw, nid rhydd ei yngan yn 
glywedig, neu ar glyw. 

/l\,yn Egwyddawr y deg llythyren. 

OIC j y n ol Egwyddawr yr un ar 
bymtheg. 

<> I V , Deunaw llythyren. 

OIV, Ugain llythyren, neu OIW 
yn llythyrenau yr oes hon. 

The above expression, " Cyvrinach 
y Beirdd," must not be confounded 
with the title of a book of that name 
which was edited by lolo Morganwg, 
and published (in the year 1829) after 
his death ; and accompanied with an 
excellent preface by his son Taliesin 
ab lolo. This book is deserving of a 
place in every library, and should be 
constantly in the hand of every bard. 

22. ysgud= scutum, a shield : a de- 
fence, a defender. 

26. Emrys, see Dosp. I. 22. 50. 

29. Nyv, a lady celebrated in the 
Dramatic Tales. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 261 

Barnwyd yn orau i brynu, i'r byd ; 

Ac i roi enyd, ac i ranu ; 

Pob dyn a vernyn', wrth varnu'n mhell, 

Y barnai hi'n well no brenin Hu. 36 

Atgas y gwelas pan oedd gu cedeirn, 

Utgyrn a llugyrn, yn llewygu ; 

Mair wen ! ni weled, yn mru gorllewin, 

Yn deall y gwin ond LI ac U. 40 

Eglwyswyr, borthwyr, yn aberthu'n grwys ; 

A gwyr yr eglwys oedd yn greiglu ; 

Dynion yn wynion yn ennynu bron ; 

Dynion yn dduon mewn lliw o ddu. 44 

Rhai'n foliaid ; rhai'n drist ; rhai'n faelu, haiach ; 

Rhai'n dywyllach ; a rhai yn dallu ; 

Rhai dros vrig Crugos yn crygu hevyd ; 

Rhai'n crio anwyd ; a rhai'u crynu. 48 

Aeth i nev adrev am vedru lle'r aid, 

Doe am iV henaid ymwahanu ; 

A'i phlant ar ei hoi, a phlu eryrod, 

Yno'n eu devod a wnan 1 dyvu. 52 

Py a wnav, od av i du Llan Sulwedd 

Am win i'w gyvedd ? mae'n gauavu ; 

Ev a aeth arnav vethu, vy Awen ! 

Heb wellau acen nad byw Lleucu. 56 

Tyssul sant divul wrth dyvu nevoedd, 

Oedd yn ei chaeroedd ddoe'n ei charu ; 

Urvul a Gwenvul a ganvu ; Enog 

A Dewi oesog; a Duw Iesu. 60 

35-36. Pob dyn a vernyn* 9 &c. Caniad : Y gan Porison. Llund- 

" Any one that had the power of ain 1822. 

judging would say that she (Lucy) 40. LI ac U= Lleucu. 

could judge supeiior to Hu." Hu= 51. a phlu eryrod, an expression 

Hu Gadarn, or Hu the Mighty, the equivalent to "quick of growth." 

patriarch of the Cymmry, who first 57. Tyssul sant, the son of Corun 

established them in a civil com- ab Ceredig ab Cunedda Wledig, a 

munity, taught them agriculture saint who lived until about the mid- 

with other useful arts, and conducted die of the sixth century. Llan Dys- 

them to the west of Europe. See sul, on the Severn, in Montgomery- 

Hu Gadarn in the Camb. Biog. Also shire ; and another, in Cardigan- 

Cywydd i Hu Gadarn in the Trans- shire, are dedicated to him. His fes- 

actions of the Cymmrodorion pp. 38- tival is Jan. 31. 
48. Hu Gadarn, Cywydd o III 

s 3 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXIX. 



I DAVYDD AB LLYWELYN AB GWILYM LLWYD, 
O GASTELL HYWEL. 



David ab Llywelyn, now that his wife is dead, is looked upon, by the 
bard, as all in all at Castell Howell. He is said to have inherited the estate 
in right of both his father and grandfather. The entire poem, besides the 
above allusion, is in praise of Lucy, David ab Llywelyn's late wife; and 
also of the orphan children. 



Da yw'r Cwrt He do^r cartwyr, 

Ac i 

Da ddyrrion ydoedd yno, 

A deunant win dan un to. 4 

Davydd y sydd Bryvai Sel, 

A llywiawdr Castell Hywel ; 

O Lywelyn deil aelwyd 

O glaim, y Hall Gwilym Llwyd. 8 

Iddo ev aeth, yn ddi var, 

Wen o Gemais yn gymmhar ; 

Ac hwynt yn rhoi gynt yn rhodd, 

Iesu gwir a'u hysgarodd. • 12 

Lleucu, Och ! Iesu eisoes, 

Na bai'n hwy un ban o"i hoes ! 

Os cnewyll ach Siancyn Llwyd, 

CTi vryviau ev a rivwyd ; 16 

Cnewyllyn vu Leucu Ian 

O gnewyll egin Ieuan. 

Cyll Frengig Ceredigion 

A gawn o hil egin hon ; 20 



XXIX. Another poem addressed 5. Bryvai Sel, privy-seal : here 

to David ab Llywelyn ab Gwilym lord privy seal. A title of compli- 

Lloyd, of Castell Howell, occasioned ment to David ab Llywelyn. 

by the death of his wife. 19. Cyll Frengig, &c. literally, 






Y DOSPARTH III. 

Llwyn Davydd, mal llanw Dyved, 

Hudliw oedd ei hyd a'i led ; 

Cwyn a hud tost cyn oed dydd, 

Yw'r nawnaint ar Wynionydd : 24 

Cwyn Merddin am vrenin vry, 

Cwyn NO hen cyn no hyny. 

Dydd Lleucu oedd ddydd duoer, 

Dydd a lliw diwedd y lloer; 28 

Diluw ydyw i dlodion, 

A diwedd haul yw dydd hon. 

Wedi dwyn o dy Deinioel, 

varch gwydd Elen verch Goel 32 
Trist oedd Von gyvion a'i gwyr, 

A rhyw van o'r Rhuveinwyr. 

Dwyn Lleucu yn rhy vuan 

A wnaeth y llev yn wyth Llan ; 36 

Dwyn bu o^ dodi'n y bedd, 

Dwyn ban o waed naw bonedd ; 

Y creawdr aV Sacrias 

A ddyg y wraig dda ei gras. 40 

Mae Elsabeth am les byd 

-71? *7> ^? "7V *7T 

Ni wn yn mysg y naw mdr, 

Lai cwyn am Leucu Ionor. 44 

Gwen a roi, 'r Gwener a Iaq, 

Gw'm i bawb gwyn o bibau ; 

Gwnai a mwy o gan a mel 5 

Gost ; lleuad Gastell Hywel ! 48 

Cawn ei haur riv, cawn ei rhodd, 

Canmiliwn a'i canmolodd. 

Mor oer oedd ym yr arwyl, 

Mil cant am Leucu a wyl ; 52 

Lleucu a aeth, orlliw can, 

1 lys Iesu val Susan ; 

" the walnut trees of Cardiganshire." into manhood, be persons of high 

But in reality the bard wished to in- stature, robust, and stately ; and, at 

sinuate that David ab Llywelyn's the same time, highly esteemed in 

children would, when they grew up their native country. 

s 4 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

A'i phlant a dyvant ar dir, 

A'i hwyrion hi a eurir. 56 

Ac o hil yr unwraig hon 

Y goreurir gorwyrion ; 

A'i hesilltydd vydd r hyd vara, 

Val coed o avael cadarn ; 60 

Ac hyd yr el gwehelyth, 

A sine fine; a phyth. 






Y DOSPARTH III. 265 



XXX. 



I RYDDERCH AB RHYS AB LLYWELYN VOETHUS, 
O GETHINIOG. 



Roderick ab Rice is described as a person of great wealth ; and as having 
several mansions. It is moreover said of him that he was a person of exten- 
sive reading, and one well versed in the Holy Scriptures. In a word, the 
character which the bard gives of him is that of a complete gentleman, and 

a good Christian. 

~^» 

Yr hydd, a gysdadla rhawg 

Wyth ynys, o Gethiniawg ; 

Rhydderch ab Rhys no'r rhwyddwynt 

Arian ac aur a roi yn gynt. 4 

Alarch o gorf Llywelyn 

Voethus, o waed Ezekelus wyn. 

Cleimied a dalied ystent 

A gleirniodd yr hen Glement. 8 

Ni chaed yn nhir mab Cadell, 

Ond y tad j berchen ty well. 

I Rys ab Grufydd yr oedd 

Yn laswydr swrn o lysoedd. 12 

Yn Llandecwyn yn Ngwynedd 

Yr oedd lys a roddai wledd ; 

Llys wen yn Llan Gathen gynt, 

Yn ol bono a welynt ; 1 6 

Ac mewn llwyn o'r D'ryslwyn draw, 

Ydd oedd y drydedd iddaw. 

Neuadd o vain nadd yn un, 

I Rydderch sy chwaer iddyn' ; 20 

Cymmhar Dinas y Garai, 

Wedi ei dad, yw ei dai. 

XXX. Addressed to Roderick ab ab sir Grufydd, esq. of the body- 
Rice ab Llywelyn Voethus. guard to king Edward III. 

5. Llywelyn Voethus, (the fourth 8. yr hen Glement, by this epithet 

in descent from Elidyr Goch, and the bard meant none other, probably 

the eighth from Elystan Glodrydd,) than " yr hen Lywelyn Voethus," 

son of Llywelyn Ddu ab Owain by the grandfather of Rhydderch. 

his wife Ellen, daughter of Gwilym 13. Llandecwyn, a parish near 

ab Gwrwaered, lord of Cemmaes. Harlech, in Merionethshire. 

Llywelyn Ddu was son of Owain 21. Dinas y Garai, " an old castle 






266 



LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 



Y gwyr a wnaeth ar groen ych, 
Dai o'r Veri 'n drev vawrwych. 
Gwnaeth Rhydderch ar lanerch las 
Ryw dai un waith aV Dinas. 
Bwriad Llewelyn ab Iorwerth 
Drwyndwn, a wnai hwn a'i nerth. 
Yr hwn a wnaeth o'r un rhyw, 
Tai Maenan val Cwrt Mynyw. 
Tewdwr a wnaeth tai wedy 
O flwr y vro wrth Flur vry. 



24 



28 



32 



(in Lincolnshire), now called Castor, 
by the Saxons Duan^-cearrep, or 
Thong Caster, and by the Britons 
Caer y Garai. In both languages it 
takes its name from the circumstance 
of cutting a hide into thongs like 
Byrsa the famous citadel of Carthage. 
Our chronologists pretend that Hen- 
gist the Saxon after defeating the 
Scots and Picts obtained of Vortigern 
very extensive possessions in other 
parts of the kingdom, but here could 
obtain only as much land as he could 
encompass with a bull's hide cut into 
small shreds, or as we call them 
thongs, on which he built the castle." 
Camden's Britannia. 

23. Y gwyr a wnaeth, &c. an allu- 
sion to the Saxons building Thong- 
caster on a land which was before 
looked upon as useless waste. 

24. Fm = Beria, or Berea, a flat, 
wide plain or heath ; and from hence 
several large meadows, or open 
grounds, are still called Bevies or 
Berifields. Bailey's Diet. 

30. Tai Maenan=Myna.ch log Maen- 
an. An abbey originally built by Lly- 
welyn ab Ioiwerth, at Aber Conwy ; 
but when Edward I. selected its site 
for his new castle (Conwy castle), he 
had it translated, in 1289, to Maenan, 
near Llanrwst, where it remained till 
the dissolution by Henry VIII. It 
then came into the possession of 
sir Richard Clough, knt., who gave 
it as a portion to his daughter Mary 
who was married to William Wynn, 
esq. of Melai, ancestor of the present 
possessor, lord Newborough. See a 
more full account of Maenan Abbey, 
in the rev. Robert "Williams' History 
of Aberconwy. 

Cwrt Mynyw, the cathedral church 



of St. David's. Pope Calixtus, by 
whom St. David was canonized, had, 
it seems, raised this place to a rank 
second only to the pontifical city it- 
self, in the meritorious efficacy of the 
pilgrimages made to it, having de- 
clared that two visits to St. David's 
were equal to one to Rome. This 
indulgence is preserved in the follow- 
ing lines : 

Meneviam pete bis, Romam adire 
si vis 

iEqua merces tibi, redditur hie et 
ibi; 

Roma semel quantum dat bis Me- 
nevia tantum. 

This is expressed in a Welsh couplet: 
Dos i Ruvain unwaith, ac i Vynyw 

ddwywaith, 
A'r un elw cryno a gai di yma ac 
yno ; 
wbich the late Iolo Morganwg has 
thus humourously paraphrased ; 
Would haughty popes your senses 
bubble, 
And once to Rome your steps 
entice ; 
'Tis quite as well, and saves much 
trouble, 
Go visit old saint Taffy twice. 

31. Tewdwr a wnaeth, &c. " Tew- 
dwr made a building on the banks of 
the river Flur." An allusion to the 
famous Cistercian monastery, founded 
in the year 1164, by the puissant 
prince, commonly called " the lord 
Rhys ab Tewdwr of South Wales." 
The cemetry is said to have been 
once extending over 120 acres ; and 
Leland says that there were upon it 
thirty-nine yew trees, but of which 
a few only now remain. Several of 



Y DOSFARTH III. 267 

Gvvnaeth Hywel Dda noddva'n well 

Yn mrig coedwig ab Cadell. 

Dynion vu'n prydu yna, 

Wrth ei ddysg, Gyvraith oedd dda. 36 

Doeth, o Lywelyn Voethus, 

Yn iaith y lleill a wnaeth llys. 

B'le cai'r un a ai 'n ei ol, 

Pe bai esgob pob ysgol? 40 

Ni wyr undyn o'r India, 

Er ei ddysg, a wyr o dda. 

Cronicl pob cwr o'r ynys 

A wyr, aV rhol ; eryr Rhys ! 44 

Ni wn iddo evo vod 

Ar y Bibl air heb wybod. 

Nid tebyg mewn si rig serch, 

(Er Addav) un i Rydderch. 48 

hwsmonaeih ni wnaeth neb, 

A wnaeth hwn yn noethineb. 

Iddo ev mae neuadd valch, 

Ac un wengaer gan wyngalch ; 52 

Ac o gylch ogylch i hon, 

Naw o arddau yn wyrddion ; 

Perllanwydd a gwinwydd gwyr, 

Derw ieuainc hyd yr a wyr. 56 

Derwen y sir drwy naw serch, 

O ddau wreiddyn oedd Rydderch. 

Pren per, a philer, a pharch, 

Pedr ieuanc y Padriarch. 60 

Pwy^n well a vedr ymgellwair ? 

Padarn Beisrudd Grufydd grair. 

Pab Rhuvain tir Cethiniawg, 

Bwa yw Rhys vo byw rhawg. 64 

the princes of the house of Dinevor founder of churches. Pais Padarn 

were here interred. It is now in Beisrudd, un o'r tri thlws ar ddeg 

ruins, standing to the south of the Ynys Prydain. 

present chapel of Ystrad Flur, or, Padarn's coat, which was reckoned 

Strata Florida, erected in the cemetry among the thirteen heautiful speci- 

of the abbey. mens of workmanship of the isle of 

62. Padarn Beisrudd, a hero of Britain, would fit, it is said, no man 

Romance, afterwards a hermit and but himself. 



268 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXXI. 



I RUFYDD AB HYWEL AB DAVYDD AB CADWALADR, 
O'R BACHELLDREV, YN MHLWYV YR YSTOG. 



The bard's motive in presenting this poem to Griffith ab Howell was to 
rouse him to take arms in the great contest of the period. He insinuates 
himself into Griffith's favour, first, by alluding to his office as the steward 
(Lieutenant) of the manor of Cours Castle ; and, then, by reminding him of 
his being the son of a warlike father, and possessing the wealthy estate of his 
grandfather Cadwallader. 

Having done this, the bard points out to him what duty he, as one of the 
leading characters of the day, owed to his country ; and that was, to enlist 
persons to serve in the cause of Edward IV. This he does, with some degree 
of ingenuity, by saying that as the world could not exist without the suc- 
cession of night and day, and the different seasons ; and as there could be no 
minstrel Avithout a kind patron ; and as the festival, where Griffith was ex- 
pected to come, could not, unless he were present, afford any real enjoyment 
to the bard ; and as the mountain, the sea, the diamond, and the marble, 
were lasting; and as the fame of illustrious persons could never die; so 
Griffith also will no longer be allowed to exist without his name being re- 
corded in song commemorative of his heroic deeds. Now, he says, is the time 
for action ; for when the Saxons had once made themselves masters of Essex, 
the song which tended to excite the warrior to valourous acts became of no 
avail. Since that time, however, king Offa has raised a dyke consisting of 
Saxon mound, and extending itself from sea to sea ; and your mansion bor- 
ders on that dyke, and as we are threatened with further encroachments, 
exert yourself, and let your sword be unsheathed in behalf of our nation. 



Yb unben o Lutenont, 
A gawn yn ben, ac yn bont ; 
Grufydd, gywerthydd Arthur, 
Ab Hywel deg a'r pawl dur ; 
Dolydd Davydd yw d'avael, 
Doldir hen Gadwaladr hael. 



XXXI. Addressed to Griffith ab we are led to understand that Grif- 

Howell ab David ab Cadwallader, of fith was steward of the manor of 

Bachelldrev (now Bacheldre), in the Caurs, under the lords thereof, who 

parish of Churchstoke, Montgomery- dwelt at Caurs castle, in the parish 

shire. of Westbury, now in nuns. 

1. Lutenont. By the term Lu- 4. Hywel deg a'r pawl dur, 

tenont occurring twice in the poem, " Howell of the steeled lance." 



Y DOSPARTH III. 269 

Myn v 'arglwydd ! mae dwy swydd deg 

Fwch ei hun ; ond oes chwaneg. 8 

Swydd dy arglwydd ar deirgwlad, 

Swydd i ti'n ngorsedd y tad ; 

Arestiaw rhai'n yr Ystog, 

Gwin ywV Hall a gawn a'r Hog. 12 

Blaenor wyd, ac egoriad, 

Bar a chlo a braich y wlad ; 

A phen, ac arglwydd, a phont, 

Y wlad hon a"*i Lutenont; \6 
A dwrn, a chleddau, a dart, 

A throed i Briv-lythyr Ed wart. 

Uchel y w tannauV delyn, 

Uchel wyd oil uwch law dyn ; 20 

Cildant aco o haelder 

Wyd i bawb am ddiawd ber ; 

Ac yn uch no deg o Nudd, 

driphwnc, yr wyd Rufydd. 24 

Heb nos, heb ddydd, ni bydd byd, 

Heb hav rhagwyneb hevyd ; 

Ni bydd cerddawr a'i lawrodd 

Byw heb wr hael am bob rhodd. 28 

Ni chwardd goreuvardd o gred, 

bod wy], heb dy weled. 

Ni ddervydd mynydd, na mor, 

Na maen diemwnt, na my nor ; 32 

Ni ddervydd, vab bedydd ! byth, 

Gair hael i'r gwir wehelyth. 

Mai geiriau 'Vengyl Ieuan 

Ytyw'r gerdd i ti a'r gan ; 36 

Y dydd yr aeth, nid oedd raid, 
Essex wen i Saxoniaid. 

Offa 'wnaeth yn fin wythawr 

Drwy'r Mars, rhag hil Rhodri Mawr, 40 

39. Offa y wnaeth, &c. " King exciting bound, even a dyke which 

Offa, in order to guard against the extends itself from sea to sea." 
descendants of Rhodri the Great, Gwythawr, wrath-exciting : rage, 

made along the marches a feud- anger, indignation, contention. 



270 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Gwely oV mor i gilydd, 

bridd Sais, val bwrdd y sydd. 
Mae^ brivlys, mae't ddwylys dda, 

Grufydd ! o tan gaer Offa ; 44 

Ennyn gweryl Tth ynys, 

Idwal iwrch ! o vewn dy lys ; 

A gwybydd Grufydd yn gryv, 

Dan y Clawdd, dynu cleddyv; 48 

1 ryddhau, drwy'r arwydd hwn, 
Y dan Iesu dy nasiwn; 

Gwna ddwy adwy drwyV ddeudir, 

Gyda rhos, aV gwaywdur hir ; 52 

Tyn dy arvau ar vryn vry, 

Tor lvvybr tuaV hil obry. 

Trimeib Noe ddoe oedd ddiwyd, 

Tri'n y bare "wnaeth traian byd ; 56 

Trydydd wyt Rufydd o'r tri, 

Tair rhan ytyw y rhei'ni ; 

Teiroes y bych gaterwen 

I dir y Mars draw. Amen . 60 



43. mae't brivlys — tan gaer Offa. the reign of queen Elizabeth, became 

An allusion to Bachelldrev, Griffiths' the property of the lords of Chirbury; 

mansion, which was situated about half and by exchange of property, it now 

a mile to the west of Offa's dyke, belongs to Edward Farmer, esq. 
Bachelldrev in course of time, about 



Y D0SPARTH III.. 271 

XXXII. 

I RYS AB EINION, O GARN AVAN. 



•The bard appears in raptures at the thought of going to Cam Avan, 
being persuaded, from his previous visits, of meeting with a hearty reception 
there. For Carn Avan was famed, not only as being the place where the 
minstrel would be entertained with good eating and drinking; but also 
where he would be handsomely rewarded with a piece of gold from the hands 
of Rice ab Einion. And speaking of Rice as having distinguished himself in 
the war between the rival roses, the bard says, that as a warrior he had 
added honour to the already acquired laurels of his ancestors. He then 
alluding to Rice's armorial bearings takes occasion, whilst blazoning them, to 
speak again in praise of his warrior. 



Mi av at Nudd Carn Avan, 

LleV a gwylk, a llawer gwan ; 

Lie cav gan, lie cav giniaw ; 

A gwin drud o\ Gien draw. 4 

Mae son drwy'r eigion am Rys, 

Mab Einion yn mhob ynys. 

Aur (es encyd) wyr Siancyn 

Ab Rhys a gaed i'm pwrs gwyn ; 8 

Aur o'i eiddaw, wyr Rhydderch ! 

A roes ym aH eiriau serch. 

O charai rai vai iach rydd 

Win yn llawn, a Uawenydd ; 12 

Aen' i nev, a iawn a wnan 1 

Ac o'r nev i Garn Avan. 

Bid nesnes nev yn mhresen, 

Bid ar dir mab Udryd wen. 16 

XXXII. Addressed to Rice ab his grand cross with five lunettes in 

Einion, of Carn Avan. He was a token, it is said, of his having taken 

descendant of sir Grufydd ab Elidir, five banners, charged with as many 

knight of Rhodes, whose arms he Turkish crescents. Descendants, 

bore ; namely, argent, on a cross " Llywelyn Voethus" and Llan Ga- 

sable five crescents or, dexter canton then men. 

a spear's head gules. 16. Udryd =Ucktryd (Oughtred), 

Sir Grufydd ab Elidir ornamented a bishop of Llandaf, who was of ex- 



272 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ban cad ceidwad ben cadair, 

Y cad pen dwywlad, neu dair ; 
Ban gad Rhys a bon gwayw trwm, 

Ev a gad Tr gad godwm. 20 

Rhys, yn mhob ystlys i'r byd, 

I ddeu-Rys ev a ddeiryd. 

Rhys hen, o Lan Gathen gynt, 

Ay var caer vawr y cerynt ; 24 

Wedi ev Rhys ab Davydd, 

Yn mrig gwlad Geredig rydd ; 

Rhys drydydd hydd, ar eu hoi, 

Eu hwyr hwyntau a^ rhentol. 28 

Yspeinniau Rhys ab Einion 

A oera Sais yr oes hon, 

Gwrda a gystadla dau 

Yw'r du ieuanc o'r Deau ; 32 

Gorau dau vaen ger dwy vil, 

Heb liw burw, sabl a beril, 

Du yw nos hav dan y syr, 

Du yw'r vernagl drwy varnwyr; 3(3 

Deuliw'n benav a gavad, 

Du a gwyn, os Duw a'u gad : 

Y du oil, os deallwn, 

Sain Franses a hofes hwn. 40 

Guls a gwyrdd, a glas i gyd, 

Du sy well wedi y syllid ; 

Dyall er eurad wellwell, 

Duw a wnaeth y du yn well. 44 

Tecav lliw dan furvaven 

Du ar wr, ond llwydawT en ; 



emplary piety, and a zealous reformer 40. Sain Frames, an allusion to 

of church discipline, according to the black being the distinguishing colour 

testimony of Caradoc the historian, of the Franciscan order. 

He died in the year 1146. 41. Guls = Gules, (in heraldry) 

17, 19. Ban cad = Pan y caed. signifies the red colour; in engrav- 

18. Y cad=Y caed. ing, it is made by perpendicular lines 
20. Ev a gad &c Ev a gaed i'r from the top of the escutcheon to the 

gad godwm. bottom. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 273 

Ni chair hael i 'mravaelu, 

Na dewr, na doeth, ond o'r du ; 48 

Da yw Rhys, vlodau rhosyn, 

Duw a wnel y du yn wyn ; 

Gorau mab hyd gaerau Mon, 

Ei liw iawn yw hil Einion ; 52 

Ei vab nid rhaid gyda'i vaeth 

Dim mwy onid mammaeth. 

Nid rhaid i enaid ddim da, 

Na dim einioes ond manna ; 56 

I minnau tra vwy i'm ynys, 

Nid rhaid onid Duw a Rhys. 



274 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXXIII. 



I OVYN CYVRWY GAN IEUAN AB MAREDYDD AB IEUAN 
AB MORGAN, O LAN AVAN VAWR YN MUALLT. 



The bard pledges himself ever to sing in praise of Ieuan ab Meredith. 
And begins with extolling his liberality. He then alludes to his having eight 
grey chargers, and to his prowess in the field of battle. After this, speaking 
of him as a generous patron of the bards, and one who had frequently in- 
vested them with the insignia of their office, he makes bold, in consequence, 
to trespass on his kindness, assuring himself that Ieuan would present to him, 
not as aforetime, the insignia of the bardic office, but, on this occasion, a 
saddle. And that his patron should ,not be at a loss to know what sort of a 
saddle it was he wanted, he furnishes him with a minute description of it. 



Prydydd, tra vo gwydd a gwellt, 

Wyv i Ieuan o Vuellt. 

Bwa Maredydd ab Ieuan 

Ab Morgant, uwch trichant rhan. 

Mi a welav oV Moelwyn 

Milwr ag wytb amler gwyn. 

I'r milwr y mae elin 

A wnai drwst ai wayw'n y drin ; 

Un yw vo'n Llan Avan Vawr 

A ry gwyrdd ar ei gerddawr ; 

A throi ei aur yn wyth ran, 

A'i rivaw yn nbir Avan. 12 

Llyna enw, nid llai no Nudd, 

Llew 'mrwydr ar ddull Maredydd ; 

Eryr Avan ar ryvel, 

Onen swydd Dinan, a'i sel; 16 

Concwest o waed Elestan. 

Concwe?*ed o'r wythved ran. 



XXXIII. Addressed to Ieuan ab 5. Moelwyn, a man's name. 

Meredith ab Ieuan ab Morgan of 16. Dinan = Llys Dinan, in the 

Llan Avan Vawr, in the hundred of parish of Llan Avan Vawr. 
Builth, Brecknockshire. 




Y DOSPARTH III. 275 

Gwaith cerddorion hyd Gonwy 

Goreuraw gwaich goror Gwy ; 20 

Bardd vum ba arwydd vai well 

Obry i gedeirn bro Gadell ; 

Bardd weithian i Ieuan wyv 

Yn bwrw ato a brytwyv ; 24 

Ac i'w vardd, pwy bynag vo, 

Ev a rydd gyvrwy iddo. 

N^m dawr mwy o gyvrwy'n gau 

A vo uchel ei vachau ; 28 

Anhawdd esgynu unawr 

Yn gryno mewn ei gyrn mawr ; 

Anhawdd disgyn vy hunan 

OH gyrn i lawr yn grwn Ian. 32 

Minrfau sy'n ei ddamunaw, 

Val 11 wy wag, neu avael Haw ; 

Val garan lydan ar led, 

Val y gaer voel egored ; 36 

A'i vlaen yn gorvloew uniawn, 

Ac ar vy ol i 'n gorvloew iawn ; 

Yn dew ei glust, ond ei glog, 

Yn odeneu, 'n adeiniog ; 40 

Yn hwy no Hath ei ddwyar, 

Yn grwn, yn gau, ar ei war. 

Os archav tanav ystol 

A ddaw wrth y ddwy warthoi. 44 

Ieuan a gar yn y gwin 

Roi i'w vardd gadair Verddin ; 

Mi a gav o blwyv Avan 

Gyvrwy ym mysg y gwevr man ; 48 

Ac yn vrith ddigon ei vrest, 

Ac yn wyn, ac yn onest ; 

Ac yn loew oil, ac yn Ian, 

Ac yn newydd gan Ieuan. 52 

17. Elestan = Elystan Glodrydd. 24. a brytwyv = a brydwyv. 



T % 



276 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XXXIV. 

I DAVYDD AB MAREDYDD AB IEUAN AB MORGAN 

O LAN AVAN VAWR YN MUALLT. 



This poem opens with complimenting David ab Meredith with the epithet 
of Avan of Builth ; and also by saying that he was of the lineage both 
St. David and St. Teilo. In the next place he is represented to be a Welsh- 
man who was an ornament to the land of his birth ; and one, who was not 
only possessed of solid judgment, but also shewed by his actions that he was 
governed by high and honourable principle. 

Joan, the beautiful and youthful bride of Meredith, next receives her meed 
of praise. 

% 



Prydu yt Avan Buellt 

Yr wy v o gerdd riv y gwellt ; 

Mab Cedig Ceredigiawn, 

(Avan wyt) drwy 'sgriven iawn ; 4 

Ab Cunedda, wr da doeth, 

Wledig, cevn gwlad y cyvoeth, 

Ab Edeym hyn, Badarn hael 

Peisrudd, val imp o Israel. 8 

Car Dewi wyn, myn Cred ! wyd, 

Car i Deilo ancr dulwyd ; 

Esgob yn y teircob tau 

Wyd sant o'u lindys hwyntau. 12 

Fth blwyv mae Cymmro dwyvol, 

Ev a wna'r plwy v yn ei ol ; 

Davydd ab Maredydd ran 

O sidanwaith Llys Dinan ; 16 

XXXIV. Addressed to David ab in Buallt, whence he is styled Avan 

Meredith ab Ieuan ab Morgan, of Buallt. There is a church also in 

Llys Dinan, in the parish of Llan Cardiganshire dedicated to him. 
Avan Vawr. Buellt = Buallt (now corrupted into 

1. Avan, son of Cedig ab Cunedda Builth), a district in Brecknockshire. 
Wledig ab Edeyrn ab Padarn Beis- 12. lindys = lineage, 

rudd, a saint and founder of Llan 10. ancr = an anchorite: mynach, 

Avan Vawr, and Llan Avan Vach, meudwy. 



Y DOSPARTH III. 277 

Llin Ieuan ab Morgan hael, 

Llew tir Buellt a'i hurael. 

Ni bydd, eithr Davydd, un dyn 

Neb mal Ieuan ab Moelwyn ; 20 

Gair a dyv gwir o'i davod, 

Gwir a vyn y gwr ei vod. 

Nid oes gair na chadeirir, 

Nid a Tr gadair ond gair gwir ; 24 

Ei davawd yw'r bragawd brau 

I roi vernais ar varnau. 

E vu saith yn rhivaw ser, 

Am ry w dyb, yn mro Diber ; 28 

Eu saith chwedl i'r genedlaeth 

A gadwai mab gwedi maeth : 

Davydd wythved yw evo, 

Del i'w vab ei chwedl e vo. 32 

Duw o Evrai, ym dwyvron ! 

A roes hen ysgriven gron, 

Val y rhoes yn nhabl Moesen 

Yn nghwr rhol y dengair hen. 36 

Dau enw, er nad un unoed, 

Yn vy rhol o nev y rhoed ; 

Enw Iesu vu, ac a vydd, 

Yn y davl a henw Davydd. 40 

Deuair, myn Mair ! ar vy rain 

Doe a leisiodd Daliesin ; 

Gair am sallwyr Vair a vu 

Gair Si wan i'w groesawu. 44 

Merch Rhys, wrth bumbys o'r banc, 

Yw Siwan vedrus ieuanc ; 

Enid Grufydd yw'r waneg, 

Wyr Ricert y w a'r gair teg. 48 

28. yn mro Diber, on the banks of 33. Duw o Evrai, Duw yr He- 
the river Tiber. breaid : tbe God of the Hebrews. 

29. Eu saith chwedl, sev saith 40. y davl, here a tablet. 

chwedl gwyr doethion Rhuvain. See 46. Siwan, Joan, David ab Mere- 

in p. 527 of Llyvr Coch of Hergest dith's wife. She was a native (see 

(MS.), The tale of the seven wise line 52) of Cantrev Selyv. 
men, written by Llywelyn Ofeiriad. 



278 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. Y DOSPARTH III. 

* * * * 9.WQ 

Arwydd yn ei phum mlwydd fawd. 

I Vuellt hwnt, velly y tyv, 

Y troes haul Cantre Selyv ; 52 

I Lan Avan le nevol, 

I lan Llys Dinan uwch dol ; 

Gorau llys rhwng Gwy aV Llan 

Yw, lies dawnus, Llys Dinan. 56 

Rhos Ddinan a amcanav 

I van Caer Ddinan ydd av, 

Ni'm cair, ac ni'm dawr na'm caid, 

O Gaer Ddinan Gawr ddeunaid. 60 

Siwan sy'n Llys Dinan deg, 

Davydd uvydd un oveg ; 

Davydd heddiw a Siwan, 

Dau a eilw gwledd ar dal glan ; 64 

Da Siwan vechan am vudd, 

Da a ievanc y w Davydd ; 

Da i bawb ynt, da bob un, 

Da oeddynt, da Duw iddyn.' 68 



GWAITH 
LEWIS GLYN COTHL 

DOSPARTH IV. 

LLWYTHAU CYMYSG YN ELVAEL, MAELIENYDD, 






I. 



MARWNAD EINION AB IEUAN AB LLYWELYN 
AB JMAREDYDD GAM. 



This poem is of a mixed composition : the former part is taken up in 
praise of the good qualities of the deceased ; and the remainder is a satire 
on a certain class of monks, called the Fraternity, and on venders of relics 
and images of saints. 



Y S da wr ei ystyriaeth, 
Brenin nev ! Ebyrnan 1 aeth ; 
Einion vab Ieuan, un vodd, 

Hil Llywelyn, He hwyliodd? 4 

Mwyav oedd o"r gwyr, meddynt, 
M'redydd Gam i roi dydd gynt, 
O wyr Elved, riawlvedd ; 
Einion ei wyr yn un wedd. 8 

Oen Duw oedd Einion 'n ei dai, 
A Hew Uwyd He y llidiai ; 

I. An elegy on Einion ab Ieuan Caermarthen. 
ab Llywelyn ab Maredydd Gam, of 7. riawlvedd, princely mead ; 

Ebyrnant, now Abernant, a parish princely entertainment, 
in Cantrev Elved, in the county of 



280 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Cwrw a gai, is Crug Ieuan, 

Ddoe bawb ; a medd o bob man. 12 

Blaenidl wrth blaned loew oedd, 

Bragawd lyn, brig ydlanoedd ; 

Carai gerdd pob pencerdd per, 

Ceisiai gabl, casai gobler. \Q 

Ei vwnai evo Einiawn 

A urddai wyr a cherdd iawn ; 

A di lesg y rhoi i dlawd 

Bara da brau, a diawd ; 20 

Llaweroedd oil o arian, 

Llety clyd, a lie teg glan. 

Ni charai ev, yn iach rydd, 

Frathr mwy no pherthrr mynydd ; 24 

Bob ddau y gler a ddeuyn'. 

Bob dri vry i dy pob dyn : 

Wrth y drws, un a'i grwth drwg, 

A baw arall a'i berwg ; 28 

O'r lie bai arall a'i bib 

A rhyw abwy a rhibib. 

Un a bryn, er na bai'r wedd, 

Delw o wydr er dwy lodwedd ; 32 

Arall a wnai, oV lie noeth, 

O gwr gwernen grair gwarnoeth ; 

Un a arwain, yn oriog, 

Gurig lwycf dan gwr ei glog ; 36 

Gwas arall a ddwg Seiriol, 

A naw o gaws yn ei gol ; 

13. Blaenidl (blaen-hidl), dyrer- crosier was preserved in the neigh- 
ion cyntav y gerwyn :. first-shot; bouring church of St. Harmon's in 
sweet wort. the time of Griraldus Cambrensis. 

24. Frather (frater), a member of Rees's Welsh Saints. See also 

the Frateria, a fraternity or brother- Dosp. I. VII. line 28. 

hood. This was originally a society 37. Seiriol. Seiriol, the brother, or 

of religious persons who were mutu- according to other accounts, the ne- 

ally bound to pray for the health, &c. phew of Einion Vrenin, was the first 

of their living brethren, and also the president of the college of Penmon, 

souls of those who were dead. Bailey. which became so celebrated that " the 

36. Gurig Iwyd dan &c. Curig, men of Llychlyn," or the Seandina- 

a bishop, probably of Llanbadarn vian rovers, resorted there for reli- 

Vawr. He was the founder of Llan gious instruction. Rees's Welsh 

Gurig, Montgomeryshire; and his Saints. 



Y DOSPAETH IV. 281 

Drwy undeb erchi i'r Drindawd 

Cnuv o wlan acw, neu vlawd. 40 

E vo Einion ni vynai 

Saint Cymmru eu tynu o'u tai ; 

Pererinion mwynion man, 

Ynt hwythau atynt weithian ; 44 

Ni wn oes neb i'n oes ni, 

Un havnos, yn eu hovni. 

Gwnai Einiawn, yn iawnav, 

Ovni y Gler a vai 'n glav ; 48 

Curaw gweis oer, crygus haid, 

Tyngu y curai 'r tinceriaid 

Caru saint, croesi ei wyr^ 

Curaw eraill o'r creirwyr ; 52 

Gwnaethid, nid vai gwenieithwr, 

I Gler y dom giliaw i'r dwr. 

Ni charai fals, na chorf hyll, 

Na lleidr mwy no neidr nawdull ; 56 

Na frostiwr, na bostiwr bach, 

Na diodwr vai 'n didach ; 

Ni charai, nis gwadai 'r gwr, 

Na gwag iawn, na goganwr ; 60 

Ni charai dwyll, na choriaith ; 

Caru Vnai 'r cy wir o'n iaith ; 

Caru wna 'r Iesu UeV awn, 

Oil y man lie mae Einiawn! 64 

Nodded i wlad Elved oedd, 

Nod o adwyth nid ydoedd ; 

Ni bu wr well ni bu raid, 

Nev, Einiawn ! vo i'w enaid. 68 



48. y Gler. Here Cler y dom; instruments ruined. See Iorwerth 

Bon y Gler: the meaner or more Beli'spoem, My v. Arch. vol. i. p. 476; 

unskilful minstrels. also Williams's Hist, of Aberconwy, 

54. / Gler y dom, &c. An allu- p. 113. 
sion to the way in which Maelgwn 56. neidr nawdull, " the Proteus- 

Gwynedd shewed the superiority of like (naw-dull) convolutions of a 

poets over musicians. Both orders snake." 

had to swim across the river Con- 58. Tidach, a drunkard ; a drivell- 

way, — the poets were nothing worse; ing sot. 
but the musicians had their stringed 

U 



THE TYWYN PEDIGREE. 



Gwrwared, of Cemaes in Dy ved = 

Gwilym ab Gwrwared = Joan, daughter of sir Elidyr Stackpole, knight. 

Einion Vawr=Elinor, daughter of Stephen Perrott. 



Gwilym ab Einion, constable of the castle of Cardigan. He slew the Irish who dwelt 
at Pitchert, for having burnt down the house of his foster 
father. He got arms in France, which he quartered with 
his own ; namely, gules, a chevron between three fleurs- 
de-lis; and in chief a lion rampant or. He married 
= Ellen, daughter of Cadwgan Ddu, lord of Tywyn and Blaen 
| y Porth ; and built the house at Tywyn for his residence. 

Einion Vychan, lord of Tywyn = Joan, daughter and coheir of Stephen Langley, lord of 

Coedmor. 

Grufydd ab Einion, lord of Tywyn = Ellen, daughter of Llywelyn ab Owain, lord of 

Ilscoed. Her mother was Ellen, daughter of 
William, earl of Barry. 

Owain ab Grufydd, lord of Tywyn = Jane, daughter of Morgan ab Davydd, of Rhyd 

| Edwin. 

Maredydd ab Owain, lord of Tywyn = Ellen, daughter and heir to Rhys Ddu ab Grufydd 

ab Einion Vychan. 

Rhys ab Maredydd, lord of Tywyn =• Margaret, daughter of Jenkin ab Einion, of 
I Henllan. 

Rhydderch ab Rhys, lord of Tywyn = . . . . daughter of John Llwyd Davydd ab 
subject of the Poem, Dosp. IV. 2. I Llywelyn, of Cevn Melgoed. 



I I 

Sion ab Rhydderch, = Elizabeth, daughter of Rhys Vychan, lord of 



of Morva Bychan, Richard Mortimer, Tywyn. From this 

Baron of Coedmor. date the descendants 

of Rhys assumed per- 
manently the sur- 
Morus ab John, of = . . . . daughter of Jenkin ab John naire of Vychan. The 

Morva Bychan ab Rhys, of Deri Karon. last link of this branch 

of the family, in the 
MS., is Richard Vy- 
chan (living in 1704), 
who was married to 
Anne, daughter of 
Thomas, of Fynnon 
Bedr, esq. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 



283 



II 



I RYDDERCH AB RHYS, ARGLWYDD Y TYWYN. 



It appears from this poem that the lord of Tywyn's house was open to 
minstrels from all parts of the country. The bard mentions him as descend- 
ing in a direct line from Gwrwared ; and alludes to his having succeeded his 
brother in his title and property. He then speaks of him as being a redoubted 
warrior ; and one of the esquires (see line 53, 54) of the body to Henry VII. : 
and, in conclusion, he compares him to Amlyn, and his deceased brother to 
Amic, who were not only distinguished for valorous deeds, but also for their 
mutual friendship to each other. 



Troi i vrig y Verwig a vyn y treiglwyr, 
At arglwydd y Tywyn ; 



II. Addressed to Rhydderch ab 
Rhys, lord of Tywyn, an esquire of 
the body to king Henry VII. 

Tywyn is a tract of land on the 
sea- coast of Cardiganshire, from the 
mouth of the Teivi, northward. In 
this tract the " Lords of Tywyn " in 
succession had a mansion, noted, in 
the bardic days of old, for the good 
cheer it afforded. Davydd Nanmor, 
in the conclusion of his poem to Rhys 
ab Maredydd, lord of Tywyn, thus 
alludes, in the acme of hyperbole, to 
Rhys's hospitality : 

Pe bai gan' mil yn ddilys 
O erydr rhiv ar dir Rhys ; 
A thri chan' gwinllan a gwin, 
Ac yn malu gan' melin ; 
Pe bai 'r ddaiar yn vara, 
Neu vlas dwr val Osai da ; 
Yn ei wledd rhyvedd barhau 
Dwr a daiar dri diau. 

Such as are curious in ancient pedi- 
grees, and not acquainted with the 
elegy, by Davydd Nanmor, on the 
death of Thomas, lord of Tywyn, 
may suppose the Tywyn pedigree to 
be incorrect, as no mention is made 
in it of Thomas, lord of Tywyn. 
From Davydd Nanmor's poem, how- 
ever, we learn that Rhys, the muni- 



ficent lord of Tywyn, had by his wife 
Margaret left two sons, Thomas and 
Rhydderch. Thomas succeeded his 
father, but died in the prime of life, 
leaving his wife Angharad a widow, 
with two infant daughters, Elliw and 
Mallt, who, by the salic custom of 
Wales, were disinherited ; and Rhyd- 
derch, the surviving son of Rhys, 
succeeded his brother in the lordship. 
On the death of Thomas, the bard 
consoles his mother upon the loss of 
one of her two sons ; and prays that 
her only surviving son (Rhydderch) 
should be spared to comfort her in 
her declining years. In one verse we 
are informed, that five of the Tywyn 
family lay in one vault at Verwig, 
the parish church, situated on the 
skirt of the river Teivy, at its en- 
trance into Cardigan Bay : namely, 
Thomas, his infant son ; his father, 
Rhys ; his grandfather, Maredydd ; 
and his uncle, Thomas. 

Maredydd, — Thomas, — Rhys, 

gymmrodedd Teml 
Tomas a'i etivedd ; 
Mewn un gair, maen'yn gorwedd ; — 
Mae yno bump mewn un bedd. 

1. Verivig, a parish in the hundred 
of Troed yr Aur, Cardiganshire. 

u2 



284 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

du Amlwch hyd Emlyn, 

Ac yn wir gwlad Genau 'r Glyn. 4 

Glyn, mynydd, dyfryn, nos a dydd a brawv, 
At vab Rys ab M'redydd ; 
A chynt no gorwynt gorwydd 

1 Dywyn vawr pob dyn vydd. 8 

A vydd ac y sydd a ddwg serch, — gorau grym, 

Gwr a gwraig, mab a merch ; 

Arian y sy'n arwain serch, 

Aur a rodder ar Rydderch. 12 

I Rydderch ab Rhys hwy rod dan' y gair, 

Gor^yr Einion Vychan ; 

O Wrwared yr euran', 

Yvory, brawd vu i'r vran. 16 

Gwedi 'r vran vechan, o verch i deyrn, 

Y tristaodd Rhydderch ; 

Mae yno, lie bu 'm anerch, 

Wylaw : oes oes yn ol serch ! 20 

Rhydderch yw pren serch lie troes iyrchwys vry, 
A'i vrig hyd yn Mhowys ; 

breniau byw yr ynys 

Ucha' pren Rhydderch ab Rhys. 24 

1 Rydderch^ garw ardderchawg, orig, 
Rhoed gwrhyd Addav ; rhoed gair diddig : 

3. Amlwch, a town in Anglesea. Barddoniaeth Dafydd ab Gwilym, 

Emlyn, a district in Dyved, accord- p. 459. 

ing to the ancient division of South John-Frederick- Vaughan, eldest 

Wales. It had three comots, namely, son of earl Cawdor, takes his title of 

Uwch Cuch, Is-Cuch, and Elved. Viscount Emlyn from this district. 

Llywelyn ab Gwilym Vychan, uncle 21. iyrchwys, iyrchod, iyrch ; all 

and tutor of the celebrated David ab pi. of iwrch. Here an heraldic com- 

Gwilym, was styled lord of Emlyn. pliment, the stag being admired for 

He was possessed of Cryngae in Pern- its elegance and beauty, 

brokeshire; and D61 Goch, on the 25. / Rydderch, &c. In this stanza 

opposite of Teivy in Cardiganshire, the superiority of Rhydderch over 

His nephew, David ab Gwilym, wrote others is expressed by various com- 

a beautiful elegy on his death, which parisons. 
was caused by an assassin. See 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 285 

Uch y w y caeroedd no chae ceryg ; 

No choed y vron uch ydy w ei vrig ; 28 

Evo yw'r milwr dan vro Meilig, 

A'i way w hyd Hwmr a wna tymhig ; 

Ni wn a ydyw yn enwedig 

Un well i aros yn y lluryg \ 32 

Blaenawr yw ev heb Janw o ryvyg, 

Vegys blaen y draen wrth dwr Anwig ; 

Bron Ceredigion, a hyd y trig, 

Bar ac aur ydyw bro Ceredig ; 36 

Arwydd o eryr oedd Ei Warwig, 

Ev a wnai i bawb ovni ei big. 

Mae 'n y Mwnt rifwnt, yno y trig, 

A'i ewin asur a wna ysig ; 40 

O Dywyn ddidoll, dai naddiedig, 

Y del ei arddelw i Dalerddig; 

Yno ar liniau 'n wrawl unig 

Hwy gryman' iddo, 'r gwyr mynyddig. 44 

Nid ydyw 'n Ngwynedd waed bonheddig, 

Ond ydyw Rydderch air nodedig ; 

Ni wyr carennydd un o'r Cronig 

Na ddel o waed Cunedda Wledig; 48 

Ovner Rhydderch pan vo rhyddig, 

Ovn ei vaner ac ovn ei venyg ; 

Ovnes o Gawres i Langurig, 

A hyd ym mythod gwlad Amwythig ; 52 



30. Hwmr, the river Humber. and died in 389. He had several 

37. Ei Warwig, Guy of Warwick, children, the greatest number of 

39. Mwnt, a parish in the hun- whom, and most of whose descend- 

dred of Troed yr Aur, Cardiganshire, ants, embraced a religious life. Hence 

Grifwnt, a griffin, or griffon ; a he they were ranked with the children 

raldic compliment to Rhydderch. of Bran and Brychan, under the ap- 

47- Cronig, Cronicl ; Brut : a pellation of the three holy families of 

chronicle ; a record of events. Britain. See Cambrian Biography. 

48. Cunedda Wledig, son of E- 51. Ovnes Gawres, &c. Cawres, 

deyrn ab Padarn. His original pa- Caurse Castle, in Shropshire. 

trimony was in Cumberland, and Llangurig, a parish in Montgomery-* 

some neighbouring districts, where shire. 

he began to reign about A. D. 328, 

u3 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

I Henri seithved, gysegredig, 

Ysgwier ydy w sy Garedig ; 

Gwisged, diosged, ac rrid ysgyg, 

Aur yn Is-Aeron ar wn sirig, 56 

Am Rydderch archav val Moreiddig ; 

Arch i Ddewi ddydd-arch dda ddiddig 

I Dduw a Ieuan yn un ddiwyg ; 

I Vair, i Anna, a'r Veronig. 60 

I adu 'n Amlyn rhag bod un dig ; 

A'i arail yma ar ol Amig ; 

A'i adu i dyvu yn bendevig ; 

A'i euro ; Varwn hir o'r Verwig ! 64 

55. nid ysgyg = nid ysgoga. the earl of Alvern, in Germany; and 

56. Is-Aeron, and Uwch Aero?i, Amyc, son of the marquis of Berigan, 
two divisions in Cardiganshire. a French knight, their adventures, 

58. dydd-arch, a daily request. &c. 

60. Veronig, saint Veronica. See Ar ol Amig, an allusion to Rhydd- 

Dosp. I. XXV. 25. erch having lost Thomas, his elder 

61,62. Amlyn ac Amig. See, in brother; whom, probably from his 

the Llyvyr Coch of Hergest, a MS. armorial bearings, the bard designates 

in the library of Jesus College, Ox- (in line 17) as y vran vechan. 
ford, The History of Amlyn, son of 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 287 

III. 

MARWNAD THOMAS AB RHYDDERCH. 



This is an excellent ode as to composition ; but there is nothing further 
known of the individual whose death it commemorates, than that he lived in 
the hundred of Cethiniog, in Caermarthenshire. It was addressed to his 
widow, whose name was Maud. 



Mawd Llwyd! daeth dyddbrawd; adydd dig a ddaeth; 

Am ddwyn ein pendevig ; 

Mae'r siroedd a'r Mars, orig, 

Mai pren a vo moel heb brig. 4 

Heb vrig i'r goedurg, Duw a'i gwyr, o'r dydd 

Y rhwng doe a neithwyr ; 
Hwn heb son, ym heb synwyr ; 

Heb liw dydd ; heb leuad hwyr ! 8 

Och o'r dydd y sydd heb serch a damwain 

Am Domas ab Rhydderch ; 

Yn drist weithian oV anerch 

Ond wyd, Mawd ? nid ydyw merch. 12 

Mawd ! ti a'th briawd, i'th obrwyau da, 

Y rhoist aur a gwleddau ; 

Y dydd yr oeddych eich dau 

Y byd oedd lawn gwybodau. 16 

O, wybodau ! ai by w yd wyd ? 

O blith eraill ba le'th yrwyd ? 

Yn mysg y dysg a dasgwyd oedd ; 

Wedi gwleddoedd doe a gladdwyd. 20 



III. An elegy on Thomas ab Rhydderch, of Cethiniog. 

u 4 



288 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Tori vy mhen a anturiwyd ; 

Tori y bont aur a baentiwyd ; 

Tarian cy vraith torwyd yn vrau ; 

Tros y Deau y tristawyd. 24 

Am ein balchedd yma , n bylchwyd ; 

Am ein dewredd yma'n diriwyd ; 

Am vyd i gyd gwadwyd vy llais ; 

Ym mro Ddwylais y'm arddelwyd. 28 

Yn y neuadd wen a wniwyd 

Y gwyliau oedd ; ev a'n gwleddwyd ; 

Llawenydd mawr lluniwyd i hwn ; 

Och, wyr! wylwn uwch yr aelwyd. 32 

Am dwr ieuanc y'm dirwywyd ; 

Am deyrnwalch ev a'm darniwyd ; 

Am oen i Dduw y miniwyd serch ; 

Am waed Rhydderch ev am treiddiwyd. 36 

Yn dra chyviawn y derchavwyd, 

Ac oes, dengoes, i'n gostyngwyd ; 

CTm campau y'm cwympwyd i lawr 

Ac o'm trysawr teg y'm treisiwyd. 40 

Mair a Iesu ! 11 wyr y'm rhusiwyd, 

Marw gwr, awdur mawr, a gredwyd ; 

Mai rhyd Berial y'm bwriwyd, eithr 

Mud a dieithr y'm didywyd. 44 

Tomas, tra vu, ni'm gorvuwyd ; 

Y bum innau heb y'm anwyd ; 

Yntau, Tomas, ''nwyntiwyd a gras, 

Minnau ; Tomas ! vo'm myntumiwyd. 48 

Dy briawd, Vawd ! ev a vudwyd 
Heno i'r bedd ; vo'n rhybyddiwyd ; 

47. \noyntiwyd a gras, " was anointed with grace." 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 289 

Udaw ar Dduw 'r ydwyd vanllev ; 

O'i alar ev wylaw yr wyd. 52 

Tydi, angau ! ti a dyngwyd ; 

Ti a'n lleddaist ; gynt y'n lluddiwyd ; 

Tost vydd broydd brwyd varwolaeth ; 

Term ein hiraeth, trwm y'n hiriwyd. 56 

Och ! nad euthym yn rym i rwyd, 

O vlaen teyrn val yn ty wyd ; 

Digiaw Vnaeth Duw, dygwyd wyr Rhys ; 

A'r V^l Ynys hir a vlinwyd. 60 

Gwae y ddaiar ! ac a dduwyd ; 

Gwae Getheiniog a gethiniwyd ! 

Gwae chwi ! Gwae vi, am vwyd brydnawn ! 

Gwae di, vyd 11a wn ! Gwae di, Vawd Llwyd ! 64 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



IV. 



I DAVYDD AB TOMAS VYCHAN, O LANWENOG, YN 
GWYNIONYDD. 



This poem is in praise of David's kindness and attention to the poor, 
and also of his liberality at large. After mentioning his high descent from 
Dyvnawal and Gweithvoed, he alludes to David's residence as being on a 
high eminence, from whence his liberality flowed not in one, but in three 
different channels ; like the three streams which issue from Pumlumon, 
forming three distinct rivers. 

It appears from the poem, that David not only succeeded to his father's 
personal property and estate, but that he also inherited the same kind and 
liberal disposition which characterized his late father. 



Y gwr a roes, ac a rydd, 
Gan i weiniaid Gwynionydd ; 
Davydd gadben Llanwenawg, 
Duw y rh'om i'w adu rhawg. 
Coed plan Tomas Vychan vu 
Ei blant ev abl yn ty vu ; 
Gwreiddiaw mae o Ddyvnawal 
A phob gwreiddyn dyn a dal. 
Eginyn coed Gweithvoed Vawr, 



IV. Addressed to David ab Tho- of Moeddyn, Cardiganshire. There 
mas Vaughan, of Llanwenog. He is a fortress in this parish called 
was a descendant of Cadivor ab Castell Moeddyn. There was a battle 
Dyvnawal, called also Dynawal ; and fought here, in the year 981, be- 
in the South Wales pedigrees Dyni - tween the Danes and the Welsh ; 
awal, and even Diniawal. Cadivor the former was led into the field by 
was the Picion of the lord Rhys of Godfrid, a Danish leader; and the 
South Wales. He took the castle of latter under the command of Einion, 
Cardigan by escalade ; for the which son of Hywel Dda. In this encoun- 
the prince rewarded him with a new ter the Danes were defeated, and 
coat of arms ; namely, sable, three forced to quit the country, 
scaling ladders argent; and between 9. Gweithvoed Vawr. Here Gweith- 
the two uppermost a spear-head or, voed y Cardigan is meant ; and not 
and its point embrued gules : in chief Gweithvoed Vawr, of Powys. There 
gules, Cardigan castle, argent. He were two Gweithvoeds ; one of Car- 
married Catherine, daughter of the digan ; and the other of Powys, who 
lord Rhys. was surnamed Vawr. These two, as 

3. ^ Llanwenawg, a parish in the in the present instance, have been 

district of Gwynionydd and hundred frequently confounded, until Mr. Ro- 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 291 

Ac a dy v o Gadivawr ; 

O Einion, nid oedd anhael, 

O frigyn hen Vorgan hael. 12 

Davydd bieuvydd y be], 

A dur awch ar dir uchel ; 

Ac ar ben bryn vy mhenaeth 

Rhanu aur a'i rhoi a wnaeth. \Q 

Tair avon Bumlumon Ian 

O'r un tir a wna teir-ran ; 

O'u haber y cai werin 

Mel ac aur yn ami a gwin. 20 

Bum Lumon Gwynionydd 
Tair avon dros hon y sydd ; 
O'r gyntav, yn briv avon, 

Y rhed medd val rhydau Mon ; 24 
O'r eilran, drwy winllan wydd, 

Gwin i weiniaid Gwynionydd ; 

Diwedd bwyd, o'r trydedd ban, 

Wedi aur y daw arian : 28 

Un cwr o vryn y Caerau 

Mwn a ddwg yma, neu ddau ; 

Un vettel o aur melyn, 

A bu yr ai] ar y bryn. 32 

1 ddynion gweinion nid gwaeth 

Y bryn hwn no brenhiniaeth ; 
Gorau bryn gwr byw ar ol, 

Ydy w V bryn o dir breiniol ; 36 

Bryn yr aur melyn, a'r medd, 

Bryn gwin hil brenin Gwynedd. 

Tomas Vychan i gannyn 

A barai aur ar y bryn ; 40 



bert Vaughan, the Hengwrt anti- press ; and it deserves a place in 

quary, settled the point in his " Bri- every library. 

tish Antiquities revived." A second 17- Tair avon, &c. The three 

edition of which in 4to. was lately rivers, namely, the "Wye, Severn, and 

printed and published by Mr. Robert Rheidiol, which take their rise in 

Saunderson of Bala. This work does Pumlumon ; and from thence take 

great credit to Mr. Saunderson's three different (teir-ran) courses. 



292 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Davydd ei vab, di oval, 

O'r un tir yno a'i tal ; 

Nid marw y tad vo dradoeth 

Dra vo byw dewr ei vab doeth. 44 

O difydd tan onwydd ynn, 

Y tan eto a ennyn ; 

Ni ddifydd Gwynionydd wen, 

CTi chanol mae gwreichionen ; 48 

Er bwrw derwen Llanwenog, 

Mae un o'i gwraidd, myn y grog ! 

Tomas vu 'n tyvu 'n Ue'r tad, 

Aeth Davydd wrth ei dyviad ; 52 

Ys drud yn mhob mwstr ydyw, 

Ys dewr o wr dros dir y w, 

Ys gwrawl Lew esgeirwyn, 

Ys hael o gorf grasawl gwyn, 5d 

Ys da ungwr ei vwriad, 

Ys del i einioes ei dad. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 293 

V. 

I PHYLIP AB MAREDYDD AB PHYLIP, &c. O GIL SANT. 






This ode opens with giving the pedigree of Philip ab Meredith. Imme- 
diately afterwards, Jonet, Philip's wife, is mentioned as being also of noble 
descent. The entire ode is taken up with their mutual praises. The compo- 
sition (see note to line 68) is clever, and the metre complicate. 



Phylip, hydd M'redydd, Cymmro oediog hael ; 

Ab Phylip, wyr Madog ; 

Fyrvaidd yw ei gorf arvog, 

Fagl aur ar ei gorf sl\ glog. 4 

Ei glog bid eurog bid warant y tri, 

Rhys, Rhodri, Bledri blant ; 

Plas y gwr a'r plisg ariant, 

Yw, Calais wen ! Cil y Sant. 8 

Cil y Sant meddiant yw vy mwyd a gwin, 

Am ganu i Sioned Llwyd ; 

Can Phylip ym a ranwyd, 

A gwin a roech o gan' rwyd. 12 

Ei chan' cy wydd vydd, a Duw 'n vach, a Mair ; 

Merch arglwydd Pwll Dyvach ! 

Ond Sioned sy ddiledach, 

Ni bwyv rydd ; ni bwyv wr iach. 16 



V. An ode to Philip ab Meredith, give from many a bin." Rhwyd, a 

of Cil Sant, Caermarthenshire, see net ; a bin. Rhwyd y gwin, a wine 

Pedigree. bin. 

1. Hydd, a stag; a heraldic compli- 15. Ond Sioned, &c. " May I be 

ment. Nid boned dig ond hydd, or bound in fetters and pine away to a 

" There is nothing so noble as the skeleton if Jonet's lineage be not 

stag." Adage. most noble." 

12. A gwin, &c. " Wine ye would 



294 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Iechyd Moesen hen a hyn i wr call, 

A'r wraig hael o'r Penrh yn ; 

O'r fridd Dal y Fordd eu dilyn 

A wnawn i'w tai 'n anad dyn. 20 

Y dyn a wypo Dwned a rhywlys 
A rhoi yn velus yr hen voled ; 
Doed i Gil y Sant, dyweded odlau ; 

Ac aur a bwydau nac arbeded. 24 

Brenin Cil y Sant, barned pob dyn by vv ; 

Bual da ei ry w oV Bledriaid ; 

Boent hynaiv Phylip ; boent hen o waed pur 

Bledri ; o 1 dewvur, baladr Dy ved. 28 

Iesu hael a wnel iV saled ddurgrib 

Roi ar war Phylib yr aur filed ; 

Gorau gwr yw'r gwr hyd gaered Llundain ; 

Gorau Gwen aelvain g wraig yn El ved, 32 

Medd glas o'i hannedd a rydd Sioned Llwyd, 

Man y dewiswyd ym win Divsed ; 

Eu hodlau ill dau ; a'u daed He rhoer ; 

Ni bu gauavloer yn byw gyvled ! 36 

Nag awyr lydan, na'i gyvred, uwch ben ; 
Na dwr a haul wen ; na daiar led ; 
Pwy yw 'r ddau orau i wared tlodion ? 

Y buail union ev a'i blaned. 40 

A enir o vru \ a aner o vron ; 

Neu, a gad dynion gan gytuned ? 

wenllaw Phylip, unlled a mab Llyr, 

Eigiau o glerwyr a gai glared. 44 

21. Y dyn a wypo, &c " He that Dwnatws." Egluryn Fraethineb. 
knows grammar and its rules, and 22. voled, corruption of molawd. 

can well compose an encomiastic 30. yr aur filed, the golden tongue 

song, let him come, &c." or fillet. 

Dwned, grammar. Grammar, in 32. Gwen aelvain, a complimentary 

Welsh, is called Dwned out of com- epithet applied to Jonet (Sioned) 

pliment to Donatus the Latin gram- Llwyd. 

marian ; as, " wrth y gair Dwned y 34. Gwln Dwsed, Doucet vin ; 

deallir Llyvyr gramadeg a wnaeth sweet wine : meluswin. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 



295 



A'i roddvawr Phylip aur addved imi, 
A'i arian gwisgi o'r un gasged ; 

Y nos yr yvem, er nesed vai 'r dydd, 
Ei win ddiwedydd ynn a ddoded. 

Y dydd yn uvydd cawn yved frwyth mel 
Ar nos, i ochel yr hen syched ; 

Cam rhoi a wnai ; caru 'r hed gyvion 
Criaw Statunion ! Saison yn Sied. 

Bord ryver, rhag Cler, oV dared (gan un) 
A wnai ystatun a'i astuted ; 
Phylip ab M'redydd, mewn felwed, evo 
A dros hono drwy y Seined. 

Phylip ni adawdd, a feled vu 'r gawr, 
Vwrw i'r llawr gerddawr rhag ei urdded ; 
Bwriant ei voliant i bared Enlli ; 
Ac i Garth Gyni i holi ei ged. 



48 



51 



56 



60 



Saint Lleyn a Phrydyn, Sain Fred, a'u cro<;so 

Iago a Gwynio y gogoned ; 

Idloes a ry'r groes a gred yn llwybr ; 

Ac un Duw ewybr gan eu daed. 

Felaig! a vynaig ei vwyned, yn vau, 
O'i fiolau brau Phylip a red : 



64 



46. casged, casket; a little cabinet. 

51. Caru rhoi, &c. that is, Philip 
" loved to dispense of his goods ; he 
loved his nation ; he stood forward in 
behalf of their ancient rights, and 
wished the Englishmen to be one and 
all adrift." Hed gyvion, " the right- 
eous seed," meaning here the Welsh 
nation. Hed pi. of had, seed. 

52. Statunion, statutes; laws of 
right. 

53. Bord ryver, &c. This passage 
appeai-s to allude to some restrictions 
that were made, or attempted to be 
made, upon the privileges of the min- 
strels. 

55. felwed, here, perhaps, a velvet 
dress. 



56. Seined, a corruption perhaps of 
senate; senedd : parliament. 

62. Gwynio, a saint from whom 
Llan Wynio in Caermarthenshire 
has its name. His legend is lost. 
Gwyno and the patron saint of Llan 
Wynno in Glamorganshire, who is 
said to have been of the family of 
Bran ab Llyr, may have been the 
same persons. 

65. Felaig, a sovereign, a governor ; 
a leader. The meaning of the pas- 
sage seems to be this ; namely, that 
whoever wishes to set forth Philip's 
kindness to the minstrels has only to 
observe it overflowing in his banquet- 
ing cups. 



296 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



A gvvraig y Felaig, na faeled Benaig! 
Yn lie gwir, yw 'r wraig orau "n holl gred. 



68 



Vy nghred rnai Sioned y sydd gyfelyb. 
I Phylib ab MVedydd; 
Erchi \id wyv arch i Ddovydd, 
Adu i'r rhain 1 oed yr hydd. 



72 



68. Yn lie gwir, " for truth ;*' 
truly, verily. 

The peculiarly cramped construction 
of this ode requires a few observa- 
tions. In the first line there is an 
emphatic word to be fixed upon, 
which is hydd, a stag ; to which ani- 
mal Philip ab Meredith was com- 
pared. In the last line also there is 
another emphatic word ; namely, 
gldg, a soldier's mantle; which the 
bard makes use of at the beginning 
of the second stanza. At the end of 
this stanza the name of Philip's resi- 
dence occurs, which is repeated at the 
commencement of the third stanza; 
and so to the end of the fifth stanza, 
where the emphatic word is dyn, a 
man. This is the leading word in 
the beginning of the sixth stanza ; 
and here ends the operation of the 
first cramp. The second cramp im- 
mediately succeeds, which is the ter- 
minating syllable in each of the four 
lines of the sixth stanza, which in 
this ode is ed. This ed, that is, words 
terminating in ed, ends, or should 
end, every line throughout the twelve 
succeeding stanzas, which in all re- 
quire forty-eight words ending in ed, 
without having the same word re- 
peated, excepting through inadver- 



tency. The last of the forty-eight 
words ending in the twelfth stanza 
is gred, belief; also Christendom. Here 
the third and last cramp begins ; for 
cred should, either literally, or in one 
of its derivative nouns, be the em- 
phatic word at the commencement 
of the last stanza ; and so, agreeably 
to this law, the word itself occurs in 
the first line. There is another pecu- 
liarity to be observed ; namely, that 
the word hydd is the last emphatic 
word in the ode ; and also that it 
was the first at the beginning of it. 
This makes the prosody complete. It 
is, like the serpent in ancient hiero- 
glyphics, an emblem of eternity. The 
ode may be considered as performing 
its cramp evolutions, round and round, 
like what some writers call a canon 
in music. But this mode of versi- 
fication is by no means peculiar to 
our bard; for Davydd ab Gwilym, 
Davydd Nanmor, and several others 
of the most experienced bards, were 
equally expert in going through this 
most difficult species of poetry. Few, 
however, if any, have attempted this 
kind of poetry for the last two hun- 
dred years ; neither is it desirable 
that any should attempt it in the pre- 
sent day. 



[ 297 ] 



CIL SANT PEDIGREE. 



Cadivor Vawr, lord of Cil Sant, Blaen Cuwch, Gwydigada, &c. &c. 

Bledri ab Cadivor = Cydwenen, daughter and coheir to Grufydd ab Cydrych, 

I lord of Gwinvai : her mother was daughter and coheir 
of Howell of Caerllion on the Usk. 

Rhys ab Bledri = Angharad, daughter of Llywelyn ab Rhiryd ab Rhys Gryg, 
( of South Wales. 

Sir Aron ab Rhys, K. S. = Tangwystl, daughter of Grufydd ab Ednyved 



He went to Jerusalem 
with Richard I. to fight 
against the infidels 



Vychan, lord of Llansadwrn. 



Gwilym ab Aron, lord of Cil Sant = Jonet, daughter of Meyrig ab Trahaern. 



Madog ab Gwilym = Jonet, daughter of Grufydd ab Ivor, lord of Castell 
Odwyn and Perth y Fynnon. 

euan ab Madog = Catharine, daughter of Sir Elidir Ddu. 



Phylip ab Ieuan = daughter of Gwilym ab Caradog, lord of Talyllyn. 

Maredydd ab Phylip = Gwenllian, daughter of Ieuan ab Gwilym, a descend- 
j ant of Davydd Voel. 

Phylip ab Maredydd = Jonet, daughter of Jenkin Llwyd Vychan, of Pwll 
Dosp. IV. 5. Dyvach. This Jenkin Llwyd bore the arms of 

I Cadivor. See British Remains, by N. O. p. 48. 

Sion ab Phylip, 
Dosp. IV. 6. 



298 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

VI. 

I OWN MARCH GAN SION PHYLIP, O GIL SANT. 



The subject of this poem is a request to his patron to present him with 
a horse. He appears, by his frequent occurrence to the expedient of requiring 
a new horse, to have been unhorsed very often in the field during the wars of 
the rival roses. In other poems he is found to require a mettlesome charger 
with strength and spirit sufficient to force the ranks of the enemy ; in this, 
the wars being over, he wants a quiet hackney to convey him from one wed- 
ding to another. 



Tri dedwydd sydd yn Nghil Sant, 

A'm da oil Tm diwallant ; 

Sioned Llwyd verch Maredydd, 

Ei mab Sion i'm byw y sydd. 4 

Hyd Vaelawr y dyvalen' 

Gil y Sant i Galis wen ; 

Lie brwysgyn' bob dyn o'r do, 

Gan lawned gwin wyl yno. 8 

Sion Phylip sy un felaig, 

A phaun owra phen aig ; 

Nid haelach oV rhentolion, 

Mewn y Sir, mab mam no Sion ; 12 

Gwir ach o Bwll Dyvach dir 

Gwinvai wedi gwynvydir ; 

Ar vedr yr arglwydd Bledri 

Dewiniwyd rhan dau neu dri : 16 

I Sion dewiniais innau 

Gynnydd iarll a Dug neu ddau. 

Arddelwyr Sion yw'r ddwywlad, 

A'i wyr a'i lu oil yw'r wlad ; 20 

Mae ato 'n fo o bob fyrdd, 

Mwy o Elved no milvyrdd. 

VI. A poem, requesting the pre- thenshire- 
sent of a horse from John Philip, of 7- pob dyn o'r do, " every one of 

Cil Sant, near St. Clear's, Caermar- the present generation." 



Y DOSPARTH III. 299 

Ato ev ai, petai varn, 

Eto lechwedd Talacharn ; 24 

Ystlys Dyved, ac Ystlwy, 

Penrhyn hwnt a'i penrhan hwy. 

Teyrn a wnaeth twrn yn iau, 

Tarw uniawn y traianau ; 28 

Sion yw y mab, rhosyn maith, 

Sion Phylip sy'n hof eilwaith ; 

Tad hwn gwaywgrwn, digoegryw, 

Bledri waed o'i baladr yw ; 32 

Ei vardd ydwyv, diglwyv du, 

A'i varddwas yn evryddu. 

Sion, ei orwydd sy'n arav, 

Gorwydd gwar am gerdd a gav ; 36 

Sion, ei wasgwyn sy'n esgud, 

Ei ddewis gwerth oedd ddwy 'scud ; 

Y gler van ni vynan 1 vod, 

Ysywaeth, heb rwnsiod. 40 

Yraovyn ydd ynt, bob ddau, 

Nytb arwy], a neithiorau ; 

Dwyrod o bob priodas, 

Ar eu Hacnai 'gai bob gwas ; 44 

Minnau ar draed mewn ordr og, 

Ban ganwn, heb un geiniog. 



24. Talacharn, Talacharn Castle, when dragged along, goes by jerks from 
now Laugharne, situate at the mouth right to left, and from left to right. 
of the river Tav, Caermarthenshire. So the bard, it seems, when he walked 
The castle is now in ruins : it for- about, moved along in a zig-zag di- 
merly, says Leland, belonged to the rection ; so that he could not be in 
earl of Northumberland. time at any funeral, or at a wedding, 

25. Ystlwy — Ysterlwy v. " Can- to tender his composition ; for whilst 
tref Arberth (Narberth) had these he was walking, another minstrel 
comots : Penrhyn ar Elyas, Ester- mounted on horseback would present 
olef, and Talacharn." Lloyd's De- his composition in the proper time, 
scription of Wales. leaving our bard behind him, lament - 

43. Dwyrod (dwy-grod) two groats, ing the want of a horse and his hav- 

or two silver coins, each of the value ing lost the chance of receiving a re- 

of fourpence. ward for the pains he had been at in 

45. mewn ordr og. The bard, now preparing a poem, 
aged, compares his gait, or walking, Ban = pan, when, 

to the motion of a harrow, the which, 

X 2 



300 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Y gauav ai wan gywydd 

Y cynta' ei varch o'r cant vydd ; 48 
Minnau yma mewn ammharch, 

A'i ben moel sy heb un march. 

Sion Phylib, medd Rhys Bibydd, 

A ry ym varch, a rhwym vydd, 52 

Ni wn arno na bo bai, 

Yntau 'n ddov, hwnt yn ddivai ; 

Na rhy ddov, yn hardd ei en, 

Na rhyieuanc, na rhyhen ; 56 

O ddwy vil ni ddyvelir 

Gorf ond hwn, i'r Grifwnt hir ; 

Ac yno mae, yn gnyw mud, 

Yn dwyn asgell edn esgud. 60 

Od av, val ydd av, am dda, 

Un wy th awr i neithiora ; 

Ni tharia y neithiorion 

Ym roi chwe swllt rhag march Sion. 64 

51. Sion Phylib, &c " Rhys ahorse." 
Bibydd says, and will moreover be Rhys Bibydd, Rhys the piper, of 

bound, that John Phillip will give me whom nothing is now known. 






Y DOSPARTH IV. 301 

VII. 

I DOMAS AB PHYLIP, O BICTWN. 



We learn from this poem that Slebeach was, like Bardsey isle, ever 
thronged with pilgrims seeking pardons, or indulgences, at the shrine of 
St. John of Jerusalem — the patron saint of the place. The bard, it appears, 
was a frequenter of this place, taking up his abode at Picton castle, tbe resi- 
dence of Thomas ab Philip, to whom the present poem is addressed an- 
nouncing to him his intention of paying him a visit. 






Mal Enlli, amla' unllwybr, 

Yw Slebeds islaw wybr ; 

Pardynau °n puro dynion 

Sy yno swrn i Sain Sion. 4 

Mae 'n Mhictwn bardwn i'r byd, 

Ac yn havog win hevyd ; 

At arglwydd ac arglwyddes 

Bictwn, Siwrneiwn yn nes ; 8 

Tomas Phylib, oV sias hon, 

Wyr Vredydd a'r arv vriwdon ; 

Canllaw yw hil Siancyn Llwyd, 

Cynneiliawdr nawcan 1 aelwyd. 12 

I Meistres Sian y canav, 

Canu 'n enw Iesu a wnav ; 

Arglwyddes yw 'r ogleddwawr 

Bictwn heb gau ty un awr ; 16 



VII. Addressed to Thomas ab which he had in right of his wife 

Philip of Picton castle, Pembroke- Jane, daughter and heir of sir Henry 

shire. The castle is situated near the Donne. 

East Cleddau. It was founded in 2. Slebeds, Slebeach or Slebech, 
the reign of king William Rufus ; a parish in the Cwmwd of Castell 
and made a gallant defence for king G-wys, or Wiston castle, in the hun- 
Charles against the forces of Crom- dred of Dau Gleddau, Pembroke- 
well. Thomas ab Philip, or, as Mr. shire. 

Fen ton styles him, sir Thomas Phi- 13. Sian, Jane, wife of Thomas ab 

lips, of Cilsant, was the first of that Philip, 
name who resided at Picton castle, 15. Gogleddwawr, aurora borealis, 

x3 



302 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Hi oedd Vair o'r ddau Varwn, 
Wgon deg, ac Owain Dwnn ; 
Meistres Sian mae ystyr Saint 
Yn ei hwyneb ddwyn henaint ; 
Euraid yw merch Harri Dwnn, 
O'r by wiogter o Bictwn ; 
Ser yw 'r arglwyddes reial, 
Saith dug, nes i wyth, a dal; 
Ys gwir Tomas yw Geraint 
Ab Erbin, heb erbyn haint ; 
Mae 'n ei gylch heb nam, neu gw], 
Vreichiau Enid verch Yniwl ; 
A'i wayw, Tomas, yw Owain 
Ab Urien, brins ger bron Brain ; 
Meistres Sian, lie yr hanyw, 
Luned, ac ail Indeg, yw. 
Bran verch Llyr, o ryswyr oedd 
Balisent mil o blasoedd ; 



20 



2A 



28 



32 



or the northern lights. Jane is here 
called, by way of compliment, Go- 
gleddwawr of Kidwelly. See Pedi- 
gree, Dosp. II. 1. 

25. Geraint ab Erbin. In the 
Llyvyr Coch of Hergest there is a 
Mabinogi, or an account of the ju- 
venile feats of Geraint ab Erbin, king 
of Cornwall, one of Arthur's knights. 
See also Cambrian Biography. Ge- 
raint was attached to Enid, daughter 
of Yniwl, celebrated with Dyvyr and 
Tegau, as the three exalted ladies of 
tbe court of Arthur. 

The Mabinogion, as well as other 
portions of the Llyvyr Coch, are sup- 
posed to have been transcribed by our 
bard from a very ancient manuscript 
called Llyvyr Hergest. 

29. Owain ab Urien. There is 
in the Llyvyr Coch a Mabinogi, en- 
titled, Iarlles y Fynnawn, or Coun- 
tess of the "Well, containing the feats 
of Owain ab Urien, one of Arthur's 
knights, in gaining her. This Ma- 
binogi has lately been published, ac- 
companied with an excellent Eng- 
lish translation and notes learned 



and explanatory, by Lady Charlotte 
E. Guest. 

30. Brain, the armorial bearings 
of Owain ab Urien and his descend- 
ants. 

32. Luned, a female companion of 
the Countess of the Well. She ren- 
dered great services to Owain; and 
was instrumental in bringing about 
the match between him and the 
countess. 

Indeg, the daughter of AvarwyHir 
of Maelienydd, a celebrated beauty, 
who flourished in the middle of the 
sixth century. See Cambrian Bio- 
graphy. 

33. Bran verch Llyr, Branwen, or 
Bron wen, daughter of Llyr, and sister 
to Bendigeidvran, king of the isle of 
Britain. See Dosp. III. 23. line 46. 
In the Llyvyr Coch is preserved a 
Mabinogi, or history of Bendigeid- 
vran, — his entertainment of Math- 
olwch, king of Ireland, who marries 
Bronwen, — his expedition to Ireland 
to revenge the wrongs done to his 
sister, &c. &c. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 



303 



Sidan Penbrwc, Ros, ydy w ; 

Susan, neu Sioseian yw. 36 

Tomas a geidw rent yma, 

A Sian Dwnn cavas enw da ; 

Da yw wyneb Sain Denis, 

Deuwell yw gwawr Gastell Gwys. -40 

Tomas, val Tim, sy velys, 

Tymhyr i holl wyr y llys; 

Vervain yw'r gwr cryv arvawg, 

Un o ras ei enw y rhawg; 44 

Ei dad oedd Amlyn rhag dig, 

Tomas yntau yw Amig; 

Troilus, ac eto Rolant, 

Triagl a serch tir Cil Sant ; 48 

Breyrwaed byw yw 'r hiriell, 

Bledri waed heb lywiawdr well; 

Barwn o Bictwn drwy 'r byd 

Bo 'r aur byw ar ei wrhyd ; 52 

Yn Mhictwn, gwin Baiwn bell 

Hwy gant bwn o gan' tynell ; 

Ugain o win a gawn ni, 

Gwin ir Mozvnd, gwin Normandi; 56 

Gwin Bwrdios, a gwin Rhosiel, 

Yn mysg dau win Mwsgadel ; 

35. Sidan Penbnvc, &c. " the ad- on the spot. Our bard also seems to 
miration of the town of Pembroke entertain high notions of its strength, 
and of Ross." when he here says of Thomas, " a 

Sidan — sidanen ; that is, silken, or vervain is he the mighty man in 

made of silk : also an epithet for a arms." 

fine woman. 45. Amlyn, &c. See a Mabinogi in 

Rhos, see Dosp. II. 5. 10. Llyvyr Coch, entitled, " Cymdeithas 

36. Susan, Susanna, a reference to Amlyn ac Amyc ;" that is, The his- 
Jane's beauty. See history of Su- tory of Amlyn, son of the earl of 
sannah in the Apocrypha. Alvern, in Germany; and Amyc, son 

40. Castell Gwys, Wiston castle, of the marquis of Berigan, a French 

seat of the Wogans, in Pembroke- knight, their adventures, &c. 

shire. It is now in ruins. 47. Troilus, one of the grandsons 

43. Vervain, an herb anciently of Priam. See an account of him in 

used about sacred rites and ceremo- Dares Phrygius, of which there is 

nies ; called also Holy Herb, Pigeon's a Welsh translation in the Llyvyr 

Grass, and Juno's tears. It possess- Coch. See also notes to Shakespeare's 

ed, according to Welsh tradition, great plays, entitled^ Troilus and Cressida. 

efficacy ; and it was believed, that if 56. Gwin ir Mownd, Mountain 

a horse did but tread upon the Ver- wine. 
vain gastiog, his shoe would drop off 

x 4 



304 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Gwin Ysbir, a gwin Ysbaen, 

Obry eto, a gwin Brytaen. 60 

Ieuan wyd walch vu 'n y dwr 

Veudwy addwyn vedyddiwr ; 

Mawr yw dy wrthiau Ieuan, 

Moes oes i Domas a Sian. 64 



59. Ysbir, Spire, or Speyer, a town sight of the bard. The person in- 
situated at the confluence of the tended by him was St. John of Jeru- 
Spirebach and the Rhine. salem, the founder of the knights 

61. Ieuan Veudwy vedyddiwr, St. hospitallers, a commandery of the 

John the Baptist. This is an over- order at Slebech. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 305 

VIII. 

I IEUAN AB PHYLIP, O GEVN LLYS, MAES HYVAIDD. 



This poem is a complimentary address to Ieuan ab Philip on his having 
completed his new mansion of Cevn Llys. The bard enters into a graphic 
description of the building, which was erected on a very extensive and hand- 
some scale. It consisted of three wings ; and the workmanship inside was of 
carved oak. 






Y gwe enwawg o'r ynys 

O vewn y Han yn Nghevn Llys ; 

Ieuan, a'i gorf heb un gwg, 

Ab Phylip hof ei olwg. 4 

Bid wir yn ei wyneb du, 

Bod urddas Phylip Dorddu ; 

Rhad Ivor Amheredydd, 

Ieuan a roed yn ei rudd. 8 

Mae Ieuan, myn vy mywyd ! 

Llaw ddeau gwybodau 'r byd ; 

Ac wyneb, nis dwg annoeth, 

Gwinau du a genau doeth. 12 

Mae 'n adeilad i'r wlad lys 

Mai ty Iarll a molt teirllys ; 

Tri a wnant troi yn unty, 

Twr pummeib Tewdwr yw V ty ; 16 



VIII. Addressed to Ieuan ab Iorwerth, prince of Wales. A court 

Philip, of Cevn Llys, New Radnor, leet is held here. 

Cevn Llys is now a parish and rec- 14. molt teirllys, that is, the man- 

tory. There are, in this parish, the sion had the appearance, or was built 

remains of a stupendous castle, situ- in the form, of three palaces united 

ated upon a very elevated and almost into one. 

inaccessible spot of ground, three- 16. Tewdwr. There were three of 

fourths of which are surrounded by this name ; the one a son of Emyr 

the river Ieithon. It has been called Llydaw, a chieftain who lived in the 

Castell Glyn Ieithion, and said to beginning of the sixth century ; and 

have been built about the year 1242, the second was Tewdwr Brycheiniog, 

by Ralph Mortimer, who married a saint who lived in the middle of the 

Gwladus, daughter of Llywelyn ab same century. The former was the 



306 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Tyvodd yn gyswllt hevyd 
Tarianau "n glos, taran glyd ; 
Deryw rhoi ar dri rhyw wydd 
Deri gwelwon drwy eu gilydd ; 
Llydan vai tai Llyr Llediaith 
Lloer galch val allor eu gvvaith. 
Lluniodd pensaer a llinyn 
Llvvyn o goed, mewn Main gwyn, 
Clos megys Eglwys Oswallt, 
Coron rwym uwch cern yr allt ; 
Caeedig blancau ydyw, 
Caer Ogrvan i Ieuan yw. 
Y Hew a wnaeth yn Nghevn Llys 
Vry ganlloft ar vrig unllys ; 
Bwyall Rhosser ab Owain 
Yn wydd rhwym yn naddu 'r rhai'n 
Hwn a wnaeth neuadd, ar hur, 
Newydd wrth neuadd Arthur; 
Eangwen yn Maelienydd 
Nos wyl i Ieuan y sydd. 



20 



24 



28 



32 



36 



Draw at Ddewi daw pob dyn 
Dros weilgi bob dri 'r Sulgwyn ; 
A Dewi ydyw Ieuan, 
AH gaerawg lys, ar gwr glan, 



40 



father of a female saint called Canna, 
to whom Llanganna church, in Gla- 
morganshire, is dedicated ; and she is 
reported to have been the mother 
of saint Crallo, the patron saint of 
Llangrallo (Coychurch) in the same 
county. The third was Tewdwr 
Mawr, whom probably the bard had 
in view. This chieftain was the son 
of Einion ab Owain ab Hy wel Dda, 
and father to Rhys ab Tewdwr. 

20. Deri gwelwon, &c. The bard 
here describes the gothic roofs of the 
house. 

21. Llyr Llediaith, a prince who 
lived in the former part of the first 
century, the grandfather of the cele- 
brated Caradog, — the Caractacus of 
Tacitus. 



25. Eglwys Oswallt, Oswestry 
church. Gwyl Oswallt, or Saint Os- 
wald's festival, falls on August 6th. 
Meddygon Myddvai. 

28. Caer Ogrvan = Caer Gogyrvan, 
a large entrenchment, described in a 
plate by Pennant, within a mile of 
Oswestry, to the north-east. Gogyr- 
van Gawr was father to Arthur's 
third queen, Gwenhwyvar. 

31. Rhosser ab Owain, the archi- 
tect's name. 

35. Maelienydd, a hundred and 
lordship in Radnorshire. The earl 
of Radnor, lord of the manor. Mael- 
ienydd takes its name from Mael, 
who was lord of Upper Radnor, and 
also was some degrees in descent of 
Rhodri Mawr. 



Y DOSPA11TH IV. 307 

Tebyg, myn Haw Curig! yw 

I dy maen Dewi Mynyw. 

Unlliw a chrair yw V wenllys, 

Enlli wen y w 'n Nghevn y Llys ; 44 

Well well wedyV llaill ydoedd, 

Allor i wyr Ivor oedd ; 

Gloew ydyw hyn o gludwair, 

Golas yw val Eglwys Vair ; 48 

Golas yw val Eglwys Ieuan, 

A gloew yw oil ar ben glan. 

Rhoi ei rent i bob rhyw radd 

A wna Ieuan o'i neuadd ; 51 

Da Ivan a dioval, 

A dwy arglwyddiaeth a dal ; 

Deuwell ydyw 

Du yw ei wyneb .... 56 

Da yw am gardawd i wan, 
Duw yn geidwad i Ieuan. 



54. A dwy, &c. " He is pos- Elvael Uwch Mynydd and Elvael Is 
sessed of two lordships ;" namely, Mynydd. 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



IX. 



CYWYDD I OVYN MARCH GAN RYS AWBRE A WILIAM 
AB MORGAN. 



Awbrey and Morgan are addressed by the bard respectively in the cha- 
racter of distinguished, active, and successful warriors. It is not improbable 
but that they were at this time meditating some expedition or other ; and 
that the bard, being desirous of accompanying them (whether as a minstrel, 
or soldier, is not quite clear) begged of them to let him have a horse, as he 
was tired, and not well capable of undergoing the fatigues of a pedestrian. 
After intimating to them his wish, he favours them with a description of the 
sort of animal he wanted. 



Meistr Morgan, ev a'i vaner 

O'r teir-Bran sidan dan ser, 

Ei vilwyr a ryvelodd ; 

Bu i Vedwyr vilwyr un vodd. 4 

Ev a \vyl dau o'i vilwyr 

Yn mlaen ugeinmil o wyr. 

Rhys Owbre 'n gware val gwr 

Bar Risiart Owbre ryswr. 8 

Llew gwylltarv ar ddull Gwallter 

Owbre, yw 'n post o bren per. 

Wiliam ab Morgan eilwaith 

O vewn y gad vo wna gwaith : 12 

Bo iddaw 'n ei ddwylaw ddawn, 

Bo enw Phylip ab Einiawn ; 

IX. Addressed to Rhys Awbrey That is, 
and Wiliam ab Morgan requesting N ^ GflA ^ ^ ^ 

nt t.hpm tnp nroepnt nt n hnrsp _ ° 



of them the present of a horse 



day, 



2. Teir-Bran, the armorial bear- »,. /', ,. „„„„„„ -,., . „ ,■. 
c i> c j j u tvt- i j j Rice and ms ravens did bear the 
mgs of Grufydd ab Nicolas and de- 
scendants of Urien Rheged. Of sir sway ' 
Rhys ab Thomas, of this family, it Camb. Reg. vol. i. p. 140. 

was said by Tudur Aled, . „ , c A ., , 

J ' 4. Bedwyr, one of Arthurs 

Trecha un draw yn trychu'n drin knights. 

Tair Bran ; ond Duw a'r brenin. 






Y DOSPARTH IV. 309 

Cai Hir o dir Pen Careg 

Cor Frolo , n Llan Deilo cleg. 16 

Gwilym mae 'n lym gwaith ei law, 

Gwr meindeg a grym yndaw 

Nid aller a'i vaner vo, 

Ond Wiliam o Lan Deilo. 20 

Rhys Owbre, lie darlleoch, 

Ev aeth a gwayw Vathew Goch. 

Baner Brycheiniog werin, 

Bar sir Gaer yn broisio 'r gwin. 24 

Llan Ddeusant draw glan Tawy 

Llywied hwn eu holl da hwy. 

Llyna eirth val llun Arthur, 

Llewod ynt a bwyeill dur. 28 

Hwy a dorant ar deirawr 

Tai 'r Mars gyda 'r tyrau mawr. 

Vy chwedl weithian gan y gainc, 

A griav wrth geirw ivainc : 32 

Dywsul yr wyv yn deisyv 

Ym mlew 'r ceirw amler cryv. 

Yn ymadrawdd ni medrwn 

Ddoe val hydd ddyvalu hwn ; 36 

15. Cai Hir, son of Cynyr, a ne- Newton, near Llandilio. 

phew of -Arthur, and a celebrated The bard calls him by way of com- 

warrior. His name occurs, and his pliment Cai Hir and Frolo Franc. 
prowess is recorded, in Mabinogi 22. Ev a aeth, &c. " He carried 

Iarlles y Fynnawn. He was buried, off the lance of Mathew Gough ;" 

according to the opinion of the late that is, Awbrey gained to himself re- 

Iolo Morgan wg, at Aberavan, Gla- nown like that which Mathew Gough 

morganshire. Sir John Price, in his obtained in his time. Mathew Goch, 

" Description of Cambria," prefixed or Gough, was a noted warrior in the 

to Wynne's Hist, of Wales, calls him times of Henry Fifth and Sixth, and 

Arthur's foster brother ; and says, was slain in the civil tumult raised 

that he lived at Caer Gai, near Llyn by Jack Cade* 

Tegid, Merionethshire. See Caer Gai 24. Sir Gaer, here sir Gaervyrddin ; 

in Pennant's Wales ; and also Morte Caermarthenshire. 
d' Arthur, by Southey. Brosio^r gwin, to broach, or tap, 

16. Cor Frolo, &c. An allusion the wine. 

is here made to Wiliam ab Morgan 25. Llanddeusant, a parish in the 
having his seat in the pax-ish of Llan- comot of Mallaen, Caermarthenshire. 
dilo Vawr, probably at Dinevor, or 






310 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Eithr vy mhen sy "n chwennych 

Amler gan y milwyr gwych. 

Ac na bo y vo ry wyllt, 

Na rhy arw na rhy-wyllt. 40 

Hwn a ddamunwn i'r mau, 

Val hyn ar vil o henwau. 

Yn uvydd yn ei avwyn, 

Yn arav danav i'm dwyn. 44 

Yn barchus dan ei berchen, 

Yn bert yn vychan ei ben. 

Yn lied uwch bedair pedol, 

Yn grwn val hen-garw i'w ol. 48 

Yn winau ac yn uniawn, 

Yn Nag tew yn gwta iawn. 

Diogi 'r wyv ar hyd y gro 5 

Ar draed o'r Deau rodio ; 52 

Y ddeudroed y sydd odrwm, 
Val dau blanc vol dew o blwm. 
Dau eryr braf gyda 'r Brain 

A dry dur drwy y Dwyrain. 56 

Hwy a'm gwnan', ban gan y gog 

Y vorucher, yn varchog. 

A'm swydd, am eu gorwydd gwar, 

A redai 'm mlaen yr Adar ; 60 

A hofi o erchi ym 

Ei gael gan Rys a Gwilym. 



38. Amler, a steed, or nag, so called me an equestrian (instead of a pedes- 

from its ambling : march. trian) : and my duty then, in return 

56. A dry dur, " will brandish the for their well-trained steed, would be 
sword." to accompany, among the foremost 

57. Hwy a'm gwnari' &c. " To- ranks, their banners which have their 
morrow evening, when the cuckoo's armorial bearings {yr adar) depicted 
note is heard, they shall have made upon them." 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 



311 



X. 

AWDL I GAIO. 



The bard mentions a number of saints whose protection, he prays, may 
be favourable to Caio. His attachment to the place he compares to the 
attachment of the Addanc, or beaver, to the deep waters, from whence he 
cannot be driven away but with great difficulty. He next mentions the 
festivities of Caio, in which were recited, or sung, different poetical composi- 
tions, accompanied with harps and other stringed instruments. He then 
proceeds in praise of the military valour of the men of Caio, — a land, which 
in his eyes, appeared a paradise, in which there was no lack of any thing that 
could contribute to the earthly happiness and comfort of its inhabitants. He 
concludes by praying for its preservation, and its protection by guardian 
saints. 



Caio wen ucho a nodd Non a'i mab, 
A Mair a'r gwyryvon ; 
Asa, Cynin a'i weision ; 
Iesu hael a groeso lion. 

Hon a'i gwyr gwychion yn rhoi gwin o wydd, 

A noddo Sant Awstin ; 

A gwragedd teg yw 'r egin, 

Oil oil ; ac a ddel o'i llin . 



X. An ode in praise of Caio. 

1. Caio, a hundred in the north- 
east part of Caermarthenshire, in 
which the river Cothi rises on the 
borders of Cardiganshire. From the 
valley on this stream the bard as- 
sumed his cognomen — Lewis Glyn 
Cothi. The district being his natale 
solum, he tunes his lyre to the high- 
est notes of praise. 

1. a nodd = a nodda, will protect. 

3. Asa= As&v, saint Asa, the dis- 
ciple of Cyndeyrn Garthwys, and his 
successor in the abbacy of Llanelwy, 
or St. Asaph : he had 965 monks ; 
300 were labourers out of doors; 300, 
servants within ; and 300, learned 
and religious. He died about the 



year 590. See Glossary to Davydd 
ab Gwilym's works. In Bonedd 
Saint Ynys Prydain Asa, or Asav, 
is said to be the son of Sawyl Ben 
Uchel, and grandson to Pabo Post 
Prydain. Llanasa, in Flintshire, is 
dedicated to him ; of which parish 
the present incumbent, the Rev. 
Henry Parry, has written a valuable 
topography. 

6. Sant Awstin. saint Augustine, 
the Father of the Latin church, born 
in the year 354 ; died in 431. There 
was another called Awstin Vynach, 
the apostle of the Saxons, and first 
archbishop of Canterbury, who died 
in 604. See Glossary to Davydd ab 
Gwilym's works. 



312 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

O'i llin a'i hegin hil a had, Amen, 

Damuned y Mab rhad ; 

Ac o'i phlant a lanwant wlad, 

Ac o wyrion mwy gariad. 12 

Cariad Wendodiad a dyv o dyviad 

Cadivor ab Sely v ; 

Ac o Wynedd mae genyv, 

Gaio doed i Gae' Dyv. 1(5 

1 Gaio y deuav ; ac i Dywyn 
O Gaio nid av er gwan dy vyn ; 
Addanc ni thynir o anoddyn ddwr, 

O Gaio na 'm twr i gam ni "m tyn. 20 

Y cae ehelaeth cylch Twr Cuhelyn 

Ydyw y wen Afrig rhwng naw dyfryn ; 

A gwyrda Caio a geryn' roi da, 

Ac yn y dyrva y gwnan' dervyn. 24 

Odlau, cywyddau didolc iddyn' ; 

Ac heb un gongl mewn banawg englyn ; 

Crythau, telynau a gy vlenwyn"* nev ; 

A gan eu dolev hwy gan delyn. 28 

Ac arvawg vilwyr, ac ervyn cadau ; 

A tharianau a pheisiau a fyn ; 

A Chaio wen wlad Duw 'n ei chanlyn ; 

A Chaio aeth heb ddim o chwyn ; 32 

A Chaio heb un brycheuyn y sydd, 

Mai y bydd gwinwydd, neu frwyth gwenyn. 



13. Wendodiad = Gwendodiad or 17» ac i Dywyn, &c. The bard 
Gwyndodiad, appertaining to Gwyn- here shews his attachment to Caio 
dawd or North Wales. by saying that he would be reluctant 

14. Cadivor ab Selyv. Lord of to leave it, even to go on a visit to 
Caio. His wife was Lleucu, daugh- Rhys's, lord of Tywyn. 

ter of Einion ab Sitsyllt, lord of 19. anoddyn =anoddyvn, an abyss; 

Meirionydd. See Pedigrees of Pentre the deep. 

Meirig, Llanwrda, Caermarthenshire; 21. Cuhelyn, son of Gwrgant, the 

and Rhywarthen, Cardiganshire. 24th king of Britain. 
16. Gae' Dyv = Caer Dyv; Cardiff. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 313 

Pob pysg i adwedd, pob pysgodyn, 

A gaid o dudwedd aig Rhydodyn ; 36 

Pob hydd o'r mynydd ; pob myn ewigaidd, 

Pob gwledd a'i diredd, pob aderyn. 



Ni ddel i Gaiaw drin o Ddulyn, 

Nag un gwayw o rwysg, nag un goresgyn ; 40 

Nag un varwolaeth, nag un enyn trais ; 

Nag un gwaew 'n nwyais, nag un newyn. 

Mair o'r Vynachlawg vanawg a vyn 

Groesi holl Gaio, a J i bro, a'i bryn ; 44 

Dewi o Lan y Crwys vlodeuyn Caio ; 

Ei rhoi hi iso val glan rosyn. 

Sawyl a Chynwyl, gwnewch ucho hyn, 

A'i Pumsaint hevyd, rhag cryd, neu gryn ; 48 

Ceitho *n cloi yno Clynin dros Gaio ; 

Hevyd gwn aro Gwynio a Gwyn. 

I ni sugr Candi a ddel cyn cyvedd, 

A phybyrawl wledd, a phob rhy w lyn ; 52 

Eu haur i briveirdd, heb waravyn, 

A rhoi brywusder i bob erestyn ; 

I bob rhai mwnai o'u meinyn blasoedd, 

O'u trevi wleddoedd, trwy y vlwyddyn. 



39. Nid ddel, &c. that is, To Caio noted. Llangeitho in Cardiganshire 

from Duhlin no Irish rovers will is dedicated to him. See Cambrian 

come for plunder. Biography. 

45. Llan y Crwys, a parish partly Clynin, or Celynin, son of Heli ab 

in the hundred of Caio ; and partly Glanog, a saint who lived towards the 

in the hundred of Cethiniog, Caer- close of the sixth century. There are 

marthenshire. The church is dedi- two churches dedicated to him, one 

cated to St. David. Near it is Car eg in Caernarvonshire, and the other in 

y tair Croes, on the boundary of Car- Merionethshire, 
diganshire, hence the name y Crwys. 50. Gwyn — Gwynyn, son of Helig 

47- Cynwyl, the patron saint of ab Glanog. " Gwynnyn a Boda, a 

Caio. The parish is called Cynwyl Chelynin a Brothen, meibyon Helic 

Caio. ap Glannauc o Dyno Helic a ores- 

49. Ceitho, a saint, whose kindred gynvs mor eu tir." Bonedd Saint. 
and the time he lived in are not 



314 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XI. 

I WILYM SION, O LAN EGWAD. 



In this poem the bard signifies his intention of being present at an anni- 
versary festival kept in honour of Egwad, the patron saint of Llan Egwad, 
anticipating on his arrival a welcome reception at the house of his poetical 
friend and patron William John. He mentions with what liberal hospitality- 
William John's late parents used to entertain their friends ; and acknowledges 
with rapture of delight that the entertainment which he ever had at the house 
was a feast of reason as well as that of the body ; for that he and his present 
host were in the habit of reading Welsh history together ; and also of ex- 
amining into pedigrees. He next compliments his friend on the good pro- 
spect he had of placing his children in high office of authority in the county ; 
and on the wealth which he possessed enabling him to perform, on so ex- 
tensive a scale, the laws of hospitality. 



I ddydd Egwad, ddeuddegawr, 
Y dov vi i Lan Egwad vawr ; 
Ac o dy Egwad, od av, 
I dy Wiliam y daliav ; 
Hawdd yw cael o vodd calon, 
O'i law, ym swllt Wiliam Sion I 
Neuadd wen Llywelyn Ddu, 
Oedd unllys i ddeunawllu ; 



XI. Addressed to Gwilym Sion, 2. Llan Egwad, a parish in Caer- 

of Llan Egwad. It is probable that marthenshire. The church is dedi- 

Gwilym or William Egwad, an emi- cated to saint Egwad. (Dosp. III. 

nent poet, who flourished from 1460 12. 2). The parish is intersected by 

to 1490, was the William Sion of the river Cothi, where it falls into the 

Llan Egwad of this poem ; and that Tywi. 

according to the bardic custom he 3. Ac o dy Egwad, &c. " And 

changed his patronymic (Sion) for from the house, or church, of Egwad, 

the place of his birth, viz. Egwad. should I go there upon the Wake 

It seems therefore that Egwad was Sunday, I will proceed to the house 

one of the " boneddion a ganent ar of William to dinner?'' 

eu bwyd eu hunain," that is, one 6. swllt, one shilling ; here swllt y 

ranked among those bards, whom cler, the minstrel's due at the wakes 

wealth had made independent of the and festivals. Swllt is applied to 

world. William Egwad, as before money-treasure ; as sylltdy y brenin, 

noticed (Dosp. III. 12. 2), was one tbe king's exchequer. 



of the bardic pupils of our bard 



Y DOSFARTH IV. 315 

Neuadd ei ^vyr unwedd yw, 
Ac un adail gwyn ydyw. 

Tra vu Sion a Lleucu Llwyd, 

Uchelwyl, uwch eu haelwyd ; 12 

Nid ai 'r un hyd yr Annell, 

Nad elai ban elai 'n well. 

Od ki vab o dy ei vam, 

Wedi ei alw i dy Wiliam ; iQ 

Oddiyno ni ddoi enyd, 

Ond vo a newidiai Vyd. 

Y mae dysg i mi a dyv 

Yn mhlas Wiliam mal Selyv ; 20 

Iolo 'n wir yn Nglyn Aeron 

A wnaeth wers yn y iaith hon ; 

Eithr y mab oedd athraw mawr, 

Ac i Rydderch yn gerddawr. 24 

Wiliam, v'aur es talm y w vo ; 

Mi i Wiliam y w Iolo ; 

Am swydd gyda "m arglwydd men 

Oedd ddeall iddo awen ; 28 

Darllen art arall yn well, 

Darllen ystoria wellwell. 

Hanes, drwy 'r s'iens a drig, 

Achau 'r ynys a'i chronig ; 32 

A'r hen gerdd ar hyn o gov ; 

A rhieingerdd o'r hengov. 

Derw Sion ni bu drasau well 

Ydyw 'r derw yn Ystrad Wrell; 36 

13. Annell, a rivulet, or brook, to that of William's, he would be 
that crosses the road which leads more willing to remain there than to 
from Llandilo to Caermarthen. Judg- return back again, 
ing from two imperfect poems of the 21 . Iolo — Iolo Goch, the celebrated 
bard there were two mansions on the bard of Owain Glandwr. He flou- 
bank of this rivulet; but whether the rished from about A. D. 1370 to 
one was called " yr Annell uchav," 1420; and was a native of Den- 
and the other " yr Annell isav," is bighshire. We learn here from our 
not known; but most probably the bard that Iolo was in the habit of 
one was called " yr Annell," and the visiting Glyn Aeron in Cardigan- 
other " Glan yr Annell." shire. 

15. Od ai vab, &c. that is, even if 24. Rhydderch, of Glyn Aeron, an 

a kind son of an affectionate mother ancestor of the Pryses of Gogerddan. 
left his home to go, by an invitation, 

Y2 



316 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Wiliam, un o'i wiail mawr, 

A dy v eilwaith o Vaelawr ; 

Aelawd dewr i ddal tiroedd 

Elidir Ddu val derw 'dd oedd. 40 

O wydd ir Llywelyn Ddu 

Y mae egin yn magu ; 

O'r egin ar dir Egwad, 

Egin hil a gawn, a had ; 44 

Yn mhob swydd, mae arwyddion, 

I'm Sir i o Wiliam Sion ! 

A'm swydd innau 'n y neuadd 

Yw enwi grym y naw gradd ; 48 

Gwaith bwtri, ac enwi gwin, 

Gwaith cogau, ac wyth cegin ; 

A Uanw ydd ys llyn neu ddau, 

Ym yn llawn yn Mhenllwynau. 52 

Av i vyny i'r ty teg 

Sy i Wiliam val Maesaleg. 

Ni ddov vyth o'r neuadd vawr, 

Na'i dai, Wiliam ! hyd elawr ; 56 

Ac ni 'm gwyl, pell nag agos, 

Heb lyn ym, heb wyliaw nos ; 

Ac ni'm cai 'r pab, na mab mam, 

O'i seler yn foes, Wiliam ! 60 



54. Maesaleg, here an allusion to an account of which, see Gwaith 
Ivor Hael's house at Maesaleg ; for Dafydd ab Gwilym, preface, p. vii. 



Y DOSPAETH IV. 317 

XII. 

I WILYM AB GWALLTER, O IS CENEN. 



Gwilym's residence is described as being opposite to Dinevwr castle on 
the other side of the river Towy, but whereabouts it is not known. It ap- 
pears from the epithet gwalch, a hawk, (a hero,) being applied to Gwilym, 
(line 8,) that he took some part in the wars, under the command of sir Henry- 
Donne, of Kidwelly. His domestic character, as Avell as that of his wife, is 
described as being most exemplary. He ranks the latter with Gwervyl and 
St. Catharine, as being given, like them, to acts of charity and religion. 



Y Hew sydd yn y llys wen, 

Y sy ganwyll Isgenen ; 
Yn nghyver trev Dinevwr 

Y mae ei dai am y dwr. 4 
Mae 'n ngwallt Gwilym ab Gwallter 

Bendith rhiv y gwlith o'r gler ; 

Barddwas He bai wyr oeddwn 

Erioed i walch Henri Dwnn. 8 

XII. Addressed to Gwilym ab of Cil y Jthychen, in the same parish, 

Gwallter, of Is Cenen, Caermarthen- by his Avife Eva, daughter of Howell 

shire. He was the sixth in descent ab Ieuan, of Glamorganshire, 

from Owain ab Grufydd of Piodau, 8. Henri Dwnn. As the name of 

in the parish of Llandybie, Caer- Henry Donne occurs so frequently, 

marthenshire. He married Joan, we will here subjoin his pedigree, 

daughter of Maredydd Bwl Mawr, Arms : azure a wolf saliant argent. 

Cadwgan Vawr ab Cadwgan, of Pibwr, near Caermarthen. 

I 
Grufydd ab Cadwgan 

I 
Cadwgan ab Grufydd 

Grufydd Gethin, alias Donne = Anne, daughter of Cadwgan ab levan Philip, 
[ of Rhydodyn. 

Henry Donne, esq. = Janet, daughter of levan Llwyd Vychan, of Pwll 
Dyvach. 

I 
Maredydd Donne ■-= Mallt, daughter of Grufydd ab Cadwgan Vychan. 

I 

Grufydd Donne Mably = Grufydd ab Nicolas. 

(Dosp. II. 1.) 
See the Pedigree at full length in Cambrian Quarterly Magazine, vol. iv. 
p. 395. 

x3 



318 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Gorau gwr o'r gwyr i gyd 

Yw Gwilym fordd y gwelid ; 

Ac ev gyda'i ogyvoed 

Yw gwr y wraig orau 'rioed. 12 

Gwilym ! Dwynwen y gelwir 

Siwan du dros hyn o dir ; 

Si wan, ni bydd ry vanwl 

dda byd, verch Vr'edydd Bwl. 10* 

Erchi a wna vy ngwaodd, 

Ac erchi rhoddi pob rhodd ; 

A'r hydd, ev a eirch rhoddi, 

A archo hwn a eirch hi. 20 

Rhoi gwia a hur yw ei gwaith, 

Meddyliaw am Dduw eilwaith ; 

Dwyn yn ei Haw dan wellhau 

Bedeir-raf o baderau ; 24 

Y Haw arall a arwedd 

Bol mawr ; a bual a medd. 

Dwy wragedd, heb gael drygair, 

Ac y sydd hael am gael gair ; 28 

Gwervyl hael, o wlad Vaelawr, 

Y verch o Lan Deilo Vawr. 
Llawer, a rhiver pob rhan, 

verched oedd i Vrychan ; 32 

Ac enw pawb yn y ganon, 

Ac un o honyn' yw hon. 

Sant Catrin yn min maenor 

A'i thy maen yn eitha' mor ; 36 

O'i bron hi a bair enyd 

Olew byw i lywiaw byd. 

Siwan am arian a medd 

A wyr hyny o'i rhinwedd ; 40 

Y gwin val mor, I ago ym ! 
Hwn yw olew 'nhai Wilym ! 



17- vy ngwaodd = vy ngwahawdd. 35. Sant Catrin, St. Catharine, in 

21. hur, hire; gift, bounty. Pembrokeshire. Eglwys Saint y Ca- 

26 Bol, a large bowl : diawd-lestr. trin Tir Dewi. Myv. Arch. 
Bual, Buelin : a drinking horn. 






Y DOSPARTH IV. 319 

Nid gwiw son ond am Si wan, 

Na wiw o Vynyw i'r Van ; 44 

Ni all pen ysgrivenu 

A sonied am Si wan du ; 

Ni bu ei gwell, wyneb gwawr, 

Nid oes unvost, ond sonvawr. 48 

Si wan oedd chwaer i Anna, 

Siohas ym oedd Wilym dda ; 

Minnau vum, rhov a Mynwy ! 

Ddewin hyd hyn iddyn' hwy ; 52 

Y ser a ddamunais i 

Yn aur iddynt iV rhoddi ; 

A'r hin yn oes y gwinwydd, 

A'r gwin yn oes dwr a gwydd ', 56 

AV gwr aY wraig, o'r gaer wen, 

Yn oes gwin yn Isgenen. 



44. o Vynyw, " from Menevia" cathedral church of St. David, 
the see of St. David's. Here, by 50. Siohas, Joshua. 
il o Vynyw," the bard means the 



x 4 



320 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XIII. 

I SION AB IEUAN GWYN, O LAN NON. 



The opening of this poem is somewhat obscure. Perhaps the sense may- 
be this ; that as John ab Ieuan lived at Llan Non, and as Non, the patron 
saint, was the mother of St. David, the bard was reminded"' of St. David's 
day, which that year happened on a Tuesday. He mentions Non as being 
ever active and present there performing many wonders. The rest of 
the poem is taken up in giving the pedigree of his patron, and in compli- 
menting him and his lady, mentioning at the same time the good cheer he 
had had at their mansion. 

~«E>- 

D. vydd cyvnewid o Vawrth, 

A D. yma yw Dyw-Mawrth ; 

Dewi deg ydy vv y dydd ; 

Dewi, evo y w Davydd ; 4 

Mae Non ei vam yno'n vyw 

Am ei eni yn Mynyw ; 

Llawn yw o wyrth yn Llan Non, 

Er hyn oil, yn Ngharnwyllon. 8 

XIII. Addressed to John ab Ieuan Gwyn, of Llan Non, Caermarthenshire. 
Maredydd Bwl Mawr, = Eva, daughter of Hywel Ieuan. 
of Cil yr Ychain, 
Llandybie. 



Davydd = Margaret, daughter of Thomas Gwilym. 



Maredydd =Elen, daughter and heir to Hywel ab Ieuan. 



Ieuan • 



Ieuan Gwyn, = . . . . daughter and heir to Morgan of Baili Glas. 
of Llan Non. 



John ab Ieuan Gwyn=Margaret, daughter and heir to Owen Lewis, of 
Gwenpa, or Wenpant, Caermarthenshire. 

8. Carnwyllon, according to the Cantrev Eginog, the other two being 
ancient division of Dyved, or Dime- Gwyr (Gower), and Cydwely (Kid- 
tia, Avas one of the three comots of welly). 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 321 

Mae 'n Llan Non, rhwng bron a bro, 

Wr hael iawn o'r hil yno ; 

Sion ab Ieuan, gan vwrw gwg, 

Mab Gwilym yn mhob golwg. 12 

Cwnsallt Gwilym ab Gwallter 

A arwain Sion o'r un ser ; 

Sion ydyw wyr Siwan du, 

Sien, well nid oes un allu ; 16 

Sion vydd iso un veddwl 

A'r dydd y bu V'redydd Bwl. 

Barwn yw Sion ger bron Saint, 

Barwnwaed, nid o'r Briwnaint ; 20 

Rhyw eryr hir o Urien 

Rheged, a Gwallhaued hen. 

Cadben Isgenen a'i gwyr, 

Carw mawr a ddwg grym eryr ; 24 

Clo Hen aur yn cloi Llan Non, 

Caer, neu allwydd, Cam wy lion. 

Am roi da, am aur dien, 

Mae 'r gair i dal MargVed wen. 28 

P'le mae haelioni 'r trihael ? 

Mae ar garw teg MargVed hael. 

Gwylan Lewis ab Gwilym, 

A chanaid yw uwch no dym ; 32 

Dau o enwau 'r daioni 

Yn vy oes a enwav vi. 

Enwi Mair wen, a'i mawr ras, 

Enwi y Dam wen o Domas. 36 

Ni bu i'n oes neb un wen, 

Neu mor goeth yn mro Gathen ; 

13. Cwnsallt, &c. " The mantle above was copied belongs to Miss 

of (viz. the discretion which guided) Taylor, of Caermarthen. 

Gwilym ab Gwallter will guide 20. Briwnaint, a mansion in the 

John, who was born under a similar upper portion of the vale of Cothi, in 

planet." The bard makes John ab the parish of Caio, now the seat of 

Ieuan a descendent of Gwilym ab George Lloyd, esq. 

Gwallter, who (see last poem) mar- Nid o'r Briwnaint, " not of Briw- 

ried Joan (Siwan) daughter of Mar- naint." The bard was not, probably, 

edydd Bwl ; whereas he was, accord- a welcome guest at Briwnaint. 

ing to the above pedigree, descended 30. trihael, " the three generous 

from Davydd, son of Maredydd Bwl. ones," namely, Nudd, Rhydderch, 

The MS. pedigree from which the and Mordav. 



322 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Haul ddwyvawl o hil Ddavydd 

Voethus hael o'r vath y sydd. 40 

Gwir vu 'm oes ar gwrv a medd, 

A gwin rhad ac anrhydedd, 

Yn Mryn Havod, bod ym barch, 

Ail Lewis Celli Lywarch. 44 

Sion, Marg'red, o'r priv vonedd, 

A oedd, mal iarll, dda am wledd ; 

Un a dau gorf nid o gas, 

Dau un bryd un briodas. 48 

Mi a roes heddyw vy mryd 

Ar ddwyarch, rhai oedd ddiwyd, 

Ar Dduw yn un o'r ddwy arch, 

Ac ar lew o graig Lywarch ; 52 

Enw Sion yw crair, neu sin Cred, 

Mair o awgrym y w Marg'red ; 

Deuddyn a roes Duw iddynt, 

Dawn a gras Duw, dan Grist ynt ; 56 

Oddyna, ys da, ddau ystor, 

Draw sydd ym dros hawddammor ; 

Dwyoes hir Marg'red a Sion, 

Duw ! Amen ! hyd y mynon\ Go 

43. Bryn Havod, a mansion in the mous, throughout Christendom, with 

parish of Llan Gathen, Caermarthen- alms-giving ; and his wife Margaret 

shire. is as if she had been a substitute for 

53. Enw Sion, &c. " John's name the Virgin Mary." 
is as a precious relic, and is synony- 54. awgrym, a sign; a substitute. 



■ 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 323 



XIV. 



AWDL, A CHYRCH GYMERIAD YNDDI, I HYWEL AB 

DAVYDD AB TOMAS AB DAVYDD, LLANEGWAD, 

A LLANVYNYDD, YN GREDIVEL. 



This ode is reckoned an excellent composition. It opens in a strain simi- 
lar to the following ; namely, " Howell is a shoot from a goodly vine in 
Gredivel. He suffers no one to return from him empty handed. His silver, 
or his gold, is ever ready at hand for the relief of the distressed and needy. 
To me he hath been, as it were, the strength and stay of my soul ; where- 
fore whilst thinking of him violent pangs of longing have seized me, so that 
I desire to see him as the blind longeth to behold the light of day. And if 
I go not to see him the Rhine shall be transformed into a sea. May he live 
long to confer bardic honours upon the poets, and to entertain them at his 
mansion." 



winwydd Davydd, yn Gredivel, gwyn 
Yr eginodd Hy wel ; 

Eginyn teg ei annel, 

1 roddi aur er a ddel. 4 

A ddel at Hywel a ddaw o gariad, 

Ag arian oiwrthaw ; 

Arian a wisg am danaw, 

Ac ar ol, aur ger ei law. 8 

Vy Haw ydyw 'n vy llywio, 

A'm henaid grym yw hwnw ; 

Yr hen vlwyddyn eleni 

Yn mhell iawn a'm dwg o'm He: 12 

Un wyv o \vyrion Eva 

Yn rhoi waith yn hiraethu. 

Hiraeth ym a aeth am ieithydd, penaeth, 

Mai yr aeth saeth saethydd ; \Q 



XIV. An ode addressed to Howell Llan Egwad and Llanvynydd, in 
ab David *ab Thomas ab David, of Gredivel, Caermarthenshire. 



324 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Hiraethav am vab Davydd, 
Mai y dall am oleu dydd. 

Y dydd rhaid yw ei oddev 

Ar hyd y llyn o rhed lliv ; 20 

At Hywel lie del y dov 

Ac ar ol y gwr yr av. 

Mi av at vy nav yn uvydd, gan Dduw, 

Ac ni ddov heb oludd ; 24 

Onid av at vab Davydd 

Ev a a Rein yn Vor Udd. 

Ei rudd tra vo 'r aweddwr, 

Ei wyrdd vo tra dy vo dar ; 28 

Ei nawdd a gawn lie nodder, 

Ei neuadd-dai yw 'r nawdd-dir. 

Nodded Sant Bened beunydd, o'i dymhor, 

Wyr Domas ab Davydd ; 32 

E wna ovn i un anuvydd, 

Ni wna e ovn i un uvydd ; 

Nid ovna ev bed war devnydd, 

Nes yw in 1 ddwyn y nos yn ddydd ; 36 

Ni ddarvu ei aur, ni ddervydd ei air, 

Wyr Elystan Glodrydd ! 

Ni bu lesgwr gwr val Gweirydd, 

Ni bu wanwr gwr o'i gaerydd ; 40 

Ni bu gyrchwr o gwr gorwydd, 

Ni bu wr fals i neb o'r fydd ; 

Ni bydd ry ystwyth, ac ni bydd, i'r llu ; 

Am na bu, mwy ni bydd. 44 

Ni estwng ev er gwyr trevydd, 

Ac o gestwng rhwng y gwyr rhydd ; 



24. heb oludd, " without regret." Mor Udd, the English channel. 

Goludd, a little hinderance, or ob- 31. Sant Bened, St. Benedict; the 

struction ; hesitation ; regret. founder of the order of monks called 

26. Rein, the river Rhine. Benedictines. 






Y DOSPARTH IV. 325 

E wlych y tan ganol echwydd, 

Y mor a lysg dalm o irwydd ; 48 
I neb o gwystla hyn a wybydd vo, 

Ev a Tywi 'n hyspydd. 

Ar y Cevncoed ei droed a rydd, 

Dan ei droed doed bob diwedydd ; 52 

E gar deudir y gwr dedwydd, 

Ar y ddwy Sir ei wraidd y sydd ; 

Dwy-Lan aeth dano a'r dolydd agos, 

Llan Egwad, Llan Vynydd. 56 

Dwyn at Vacsen ei garennydd, 

A wn innan o Wynionydd ; 

Ac o Wernan 1 ei garennydd 

At Lawdden hen yn gynt no hydd ; 60 

Y gwr o Dewdwr, dedwydd yw 'n ieuanc, 
Nai Owain ab Grufydd. 

Doeth yw Hywel ar annel rydd, 

Os doeth Uriel wastad ieithydd ; 64 

Hael yw Hywel, ac nid celwydd, 

Os hael Nudd Hael, os buan hydd ; 

Y trihael oedd hael ar heolydd, ev 

Ivor oedd bedwerydd. 68 

Wedi Ivor y daeth Davydd, 

Da oedd Ivor, da oedd Ddavydd. 

Wedi Ivor, pummeib Davydd ; 

Ond da Ivor o blant Davydd, 72 

Ivor a Rhydderch o Ddavydd hyawdl, 

Yw Hywel ab Davydd. 



49. I neb o gwystla, Sec. "Sooner dry." Gwystlaw gwybodaeth, to di 
than he would betray a secret to any vulge a secret : dywedyd rhin. 
one the river Towy would become 



326 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XV. 



I DAVYDD AB MAREDYDD AB HYWEL GETHIN, 
O RAIADR GWY. 



The bard, in this poem, signifies his intention to be present at Rhaiadr, 
upon the Wye, to celebrate St. Cynllo's festival. So great, it appears, was 
his anxiety of paying David a visit, that he says, that having once mounted 
his horse, he would go thither with speed surpassing that of a stag, or that of 
a stag-hound in full chase. The poem is one entire encomiastic in praise o£ 
his patron and the lady of the house. 



Llawer, wyl Gynllo, a red 

IV un man yr wy 'n myned ; 

Mi av yn gynt ar vy march 

Hyd Raiadr no 'r Padriarch ; 4 

Ydd wyv yn gynt at Ddavydd 

No'r carw hen ; no'r ci i'r hydd. 

Mab Maredydd ni chuddia 

Er Gwynedd oil rhag un dda ; 8 

Pob peth wyr Hywel Gethin, 

A bair am iaith ber o'm min. 

Y Hew o gorf Einion Llwyd 

A yr Gynllo 'n wr gwynllwyd ; 1 2 

XV. Addressed to David ab Mere- different miracles performed by her. 

dith ab Howell Gethin, of Rhaidr Cynllo was the founder of Llan 

Gwy. Gynllo ; and also of Llan Goedmor, 

1. Cynllo, was the son of Mor ab Cardiganshire, where the following 

Ceneu ab Coel Godebog. He lived memorials of him are preserved, 

about the middle of the fifth century, namely, 1. Cenvynau Cynllo, or 

and was, according to our bard, the Cynllo's brewing or mashing tubs, 

patron saint of the parish in which being cavities worn in the rocky bed 

Rhaiadr Gwy is situated. He ac- of the river by the continual abrasion 

knowledged no other; but, however, of the water. 2. 01 traed march 

Carlisle makes the patron saint to be Cynllo, the prints, or marks, of the 

Clement, whilst others add another hoofs of Cynllo's horse left in the 

saint, namely, Bridget (Bride, or Sant rock. 3. Ol gliniau Cynllo, the marks 

Fraid), the patron saint of Llan San of Cynllo's knees when at his devo- 

Fraid Cwm Deuddwr, which is an tions. Besides the above memorials 

adjoining parish. To whom there of this saint, there is a spring of 

is an excellent Cywydd addressed, by water at Llanbister, in Radnorshire, 

Iorwerth Vynglwyd, narrating the called Pistyll Cynllo. 



y DOSPARTH IV. 327 

Llawer grod a vu 'n rhodiaw 

O'i allu ev ar vy Haw. 

Os da V gwr yma am rod 

Mae Eva yn dda am ddiod ; 16 

Myn Dervel ! merch Llywelyn 

Biau 'r glod gan vab o'r Glyn ; 

Gwenddydd Maredydd a ran 

Gwrw ac aur wrth graig arian ; 20 

Rhiain Rhicert ab Einion 

Rhy hael val ei rhyw yw hon. 

Y dyn a gafo enw da, 

A gaif gan bawb ei gofa ; 24 

Wrth yr enw yn Ngwrtheyrnion 

Yr a hi a chymmhar hon ; 

Eu dau enw yw, nid annoeth, 

Eva dda iawn, Davydd ddoeth. 28 

Dewt (vu dda) Davydd oedd, 

Hwn wedi hwnw ydoedd : 

Davydd Brophwyd a'i avael 

O'i dda ei him a oedd hael ; 32 

Davydd o Varedydd vrig 

Trydydd Davydd bendevig ; 

Odid Davydd doed dyvyn 

Na bo da yn wyneb dyn. 36 

Myn y nev ! odid Eva 

Yn y byd oil na bo da ; 

Pwy V Eva dda am ddaoedd ? 

Eva wraig Ivor a oedd. 40 

Eva Gethin rhoes win gwyn 

Mewn gwindai mwy nog undyn ; 

Raiadr Eva riain, 

Yn ei rhwysg, yw un o'r rhai'ii. 44 

Addav y gelwi Ddavydd, 

Eva hael yw gwraig vy hydd. 



17- mub oV Glyn, by this expression epithet to Eve David's wife, See 
the poet meant himself. Dosp. III. xx. 8. 

19. Gwenddydd, a complimentary 



328 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Glyn Ebron Tr dynion da 

Ytyw Rhaiadr, val Troia ; 48 

Paradwys i bob prydydd 

Yw tai y rhai'n, a'u tir rhydd. 

Eu cartrev, nev pob dyn oedd, 

Awn i yved i nevoedd ; 52 

Awn a'n cerdd pob dyn a'u car, 

Awn i ganu yn gynnar. 

A gano Prelad ganwaith, 

I Dduw a a yn ddwy iaith ; % f>6 

A gano 'r gog ar gynnydd, 

Ar y gainc a a Tr gwydd ; 

A gano Cymmro lie can, 

Aed i wr da ei arian ; 60 

A ganwyv, tra v'wyv, am vudd, 

Aed i Eva a Davydd. 

55. Prelad, corruption of prelate; here a chanter in a Cathedral : priv- 
gantor mewn Eglwys Gadeiriawl. 



Y D0SPARTH IV. 329 



XVI. 



MARWNAD RHYS TOMAS AB DAVYDD, A MORYS EI VAB, 
O LANGYNLLO, YN MAEL1ENYDD RHIWLALLT. 



This poem, upon the whole, is a fair specimen of the bard's art of poetry. 
His images, like the language, is peculiarly oriental, as may be gathered from 
the following paraphrase of the former part of the poem. " Vine trees have 
been cut down in Maelienydd, — fruit-bearing trees have been cut down ; — 
yea, two stately oaks have been felled ; for Rice and his son Morris are laid 
low in the dust — in the church of Llan Gynllo. Our consolation, however, 
is, that although the parent tree hath been cut down, yet from its roots hath 
sprung up a goodly branch in the person of Thomas ab Rice. He is the 
image of his father ; for a noble stag a similar one begets ; and so it is with 
the offsprings of the eagle, and the lion, that they are like their respective 
parents." 



Llas gwinwydd Maelienydd Ian, 
Lladdva Caer Droia druan ; 

Y grog Iwyd ai ddagr ai gledd 

A vwriai gryv i orwedd. 4 

Bwriawdd, rhy hawdd vydd troi'r rhod, 

Brenau per, barnau parod ; 

Rhyw ddwy-ddar o goed arab, 

Rhys, ail oedd Vorys ei vab. 8 

Gwinttan, yn eglwys Gynllo, 

Gwestyn graig sy dan y gro ; 

Ac o'i wraidd, ac o'i vrig Rys, 

Y mae eilwaith bren melys ; 12 



XVI. An elegy upon Rice ab or derw, pren melys, — llwyn — and 

Thomas ab David, and his son Mor- among the rest coed Pwmparis. 

ris, of Llan Gynllo, in Maelienydd When speaking of the goodness and 

Rhiwlallt, Radnorshire. usefulness of individuals he compares 

1. Lias gwinwydd, Sic. The bard, them to fruit-bearing trees; and when 

by the figure metonymy, applies the speaking of their rank in life, he 

names of several trees, shrubs, &c. to compares them to the sturdy oak — 

persons of whom he speaks, — such the king of the British forest, 
as Gwinwydd, — prenau ptr, — dar 10. Gwestyn graig = Craig Westyn. 

Z 



330 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Tomas a chant o iemyn, 

Ab Rhys, goed Pwmparis gwyn ! 

Un oV derw 'n nhir y Dwyrain 

Yw ev o wydd Hywel Vain : iq 

O'r ddar, ac o wraidd eraill, 

Y daw 'r llwyn cyhyd aV lla.il!. 
O garw y mag rygarw main, 

A'r eilwaith carw o elain ; 20 

O'r eryr y cair arall, 

Ac o'r llew e gair y Hall. 

Bid gleisiad a vo stadol ; 

Benaig bid ei vab yn ol. 24- 

Penav vu Rhys ab Davydd, 

A vo o'i waed penav vydd ; 

Ei vab vydd beunydd yn ben 

O Wy hy vryd i Havren ; 28 

A dwygamp, myn troed Eg wad ! 

A rail a \vyr gwyr ei wlad ; 

A'r gyvraith o'r heniaith hon, 

A'r gwayw mawr, ar Gymaron. 32 

O aderyn gwyllt erov 

Y mag dyn aderyn dov ; 
Edn dov tu rhagov i Rys 

Vum innau drwy'r vam ynys ; 36 

A'm nyth a oedd, yn min allt, 

Yn yr hdl wen yn Rhiwlallt. 

Weithian am arian eryr 

Domas wyv, hyd y mae syr ; 40 

Eryr vu, myn yr wyryv Vair ! 

Yn darogan ar drigair. 



19. rhygarw (rhy-carw), a deer of in 1194, rebuilt by Roger Mortimer, 

tbe first class, a nonpareil of the of Wigmore castle, Salop. The site 

kind. and mote only of the castle are now 

32. Cymaron = Castell Cymaron ; visible. 

Cymaron castle, on the banks of 36. y Vam Ynys, Great Britain, 

the river Cymaron, in the parish of 41. Eryr vu, &c. An eagle hath 

Llanddewi Ystrad Enau in the county been prophesying in a few words (ar 

of Radnor. The castle was, in the drigair), &c. The bard had here in 

year 1142, in the possession of Hugh, view the following account, which we 

earl of Chester. It was afterwards, find in Brut G. ab Arthur, namely, 



Y DOSPA11TH IV. 



331 



Ar gaerau, yn mrig Arras, 
Y dre bu Run Baladr Bras. 
Darogan rhan i vab Rhys 
A wnav innau yn v'ynys ; 
Duw yma rhoed i Domas 
I adail groft, hoedl a gras ; 
I roi 'r aur yn nhor yr allt, 
I roi eli ar Riwlallt ; 
I gau talcen Maelienydd, 
I gloi barn, rhaglaw o bydd ; 
I gadw "r vaenor, val Morys, 
I lywiaw rhent ar ol Rhys. 



44 



48 



52 



" Ac wedi Lleon daeth Rhun Baladr 
Bras, ei vab, ac eve adeiladws Gastell 
Mynydd Paladr, a elwir yn awr Kaer 
Septon. Ac yna tra adeilyt y Gaer 
honno y bu Eryr yn prophwydaw, 
ac yn dywedyd daroganau yr ynys 
hon." See Myv. Arch. vol. ii. pp. 
124 — 1 26, where the eagle's prophecy 
is recorded. The above passage ex- 
plains the bard's meaning ; and ac- 
counts for his volunteering to become 
the prophetical eryr (eagle) to Tho- 
mas, the surviving son of Rhys ab 
Thomas. The following is another 
account of the eagle of Kaer Septon, 
now Shaftsbury, (taken from Powel's 



Historie of Cambria, p. 3. 4to. edit.): 
viz. " Concerning the words of the 
Eagle at the building of Caer Septon 
in Mount Paladour in the time of 
Rudhudibras, in the yeare after the 
creation of the world, 3048, some 
think that an eagle did then speake 
and prophesie. Other are of opinion, 
that it was a Brytaine named Aquila 
that prophesied of these things, and 
of the recoverie of the whole lie 
againe by the Brytaines, bringing 
with them the bones of Cadwalader 
from Rome, as in the said prophesies 
is to be seene." 






z 2 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XVII. 

MARWNAD DAVYDD AMHREDYDD AB EINION, O RAIADR 
GWY, YN NGWRTHEYRNION. 



In this elegy the bard speaks of David ab Meredith as being very aged at 
the time of his death ; but he does not mention how old. He is described by 
him as having been a most excellent man ; and one who had prospered in 
the world ; and one also whose hospitality was unbounded. 



Davydd bu ddedwydd, val mab Don, y'mhryd 

Amhredydd ab Einion ; 

Da wr vu val dar o von. 

Da wrth ran dwy Wrtheyrnion. 

Calon Gwrtheyrnion a'i throed ; aH harddwrn ; 
A'i hurddas vu erioed ; 
Carw ar wyr cywir a roed, 
Gwir iawn na bu garw unoed. 

Oediawg o varchawg, da ci voes, ydoedd, 
Mai Sadwrn, neu Idloes ; 
Ni wn un, yn un einioes, 
A vu neb a vai un oes. 



12 



XVII. Aii elegy on David ab Mere- 
dith ab Einion of Rhaiadr Gwy. It 
appears from several passages (lines 
8, 12, &c.) in the ode, that he was 
very aged when he died. 

1. mab Don, "son of Don," namely, 
Gwdion. From this passage we may 
guess that David had been an exten- 
sive herdsman ; for Gwdion, to whom 
he compares him, was " one of the 
famous tribe-herdsman of Britain, 
who looked after the cattle of Gwyn- 
edd Uch Conwy." Triad. 

8. Gwir iawn, &c. that is, It is 
very true that no one of the present 
age arrived at so great an age as he 
was when he died. Carw unoed } here, 
as elsewhere, must be regarded as an 
epithet rather than really and truly, 



in its literal sense, a stag. 

10. Sadwrn, the son of Bicanys, 
also called Sadwrn Varchog, the bro- 
ther of Illtyd, and cousin of Emyr 
Llydaw, a saint who lived in the 
latter part of the fifth and the be- 
ginning of the sixth centuries. There 
are two churches dedicated to him, 
one in Caermarthenshire, and another 
in Anglesea. Cambrian Biog. 

Idloes, the son of Gwyddnabi ab 
Llawvrodedd Yarvog, a saint who 
lived in the middle of the sixth cen- 
tury. Llan Idloes in Montgomery- 
shire, is dedicated to him. Cambrian 
Biog. 

11. Ni wn un, &c. for, Ni wn a 
vu nebun. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 333 

Oes deg, nos a dydd, a ddyvu i Ddavydd ; 

Oes Abra'm benfydd ; oes hydd, a Sem ; 

Oes No, rhosyn iaith ; Eneas nawiaith ; 

Ev aeth oes eilwaith Vethusalem. \6 

Oes dar yn aros, oes hydd rhydd o'r rhos, 

Iddaw am annos a ddamunem ; 

A'r oed, yn ei ras^ gyviawn a gavas, 

Gyda chwe' urddas ban gyd-chwarddem. 20 

IV wlad, ac iV wledd ; iV vord, ac iV vedd ; 

IV air o'r diwedd draw y deuem ; 

A da, yn ei dai, ar win a ranai ; 

A da a dalai wedi delem. 24 

Dyvod 'lys Davydd y bum i gael budd ; 

A'i rudd dadanhudd a adwaenem ; 

Dyvod i V ovwy gynt i Raidr Gwy ; 

Ac yn ei ovwy gwin a yvem. 28 

Osai, medd vis Mai ; llyn Gweble nid liai ; 

Vu liv yn ei dai val avon Dem ; 

Davydd wrth dyvu well-well ei allu, 

Drwy Gymmru y bu val brenin Bern. 32 

Ni chav, val Davydd, na Hew na llywydd ; 

Ni bydd dragywydd nac nac M ; 

Na gwr o enw gwych un glod yn gwledych ; 

Na chawr yn un ddrych ; na cbarw yn un ddrem. 36 

Un llew Einion Llwyd y w'r gwr a garwyd ; 

Ei dda aH aelwyd a addolem ; 

Unsaig, un ansodd ; un vaint, ac un vodd, 

AV gwr a seiliodd Gaerusalem. 40 

Pwy 'r un imp mewn oes ar win vaint a roes ? 
Pa'm yn oes ? can'-oes ? pa'm nas cwynem ? 



30. avon Dem, the river Thames. Who in one age ; yea, who in one 

32. breniri Bern, king of Bohemia. hundred ages, was so lavish of his 

34. nac O nac M, for Nac un enw wine as he was? why then do we 

avail. not lament ?- 



41. Pwy V un imp, &c. that is, 



z 3 



3#4 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Unllais, wyl Gynllo, y w deunaw am dano ; 

Yn ei ol evo, — pa'm na levem ? 44 

Pa rai 'n veibion prudd yw nerth meibion Nudd ? 
Pum Morydd Davydd lie y dovem ; 
Edwart, Bhicart, Rhys, Davydd, Ystyvn ly vnlys ; 
Hwy a'u gwin melus a ganmolem. 48 

Gwr sy'ii ei garu archodd ei gyrchu, 

A vu o wythlu yn nhrev Veth'lem ; 

A archo eirchiaid, a gano gweiniaid, 

Yma i'w enaid a ddymunem. 52 

Ni ddymunwn gwn ar gynnydd un oes, 

Ond cael nev tragywydd ; 

Ond nev yn hendrev i'r hydd ; 

Ond tyvu o blant Davydd. 56 

46. Pum Morydd Davydd, " the hearted ness. Brut G. ab Arthur. 
five Morydds of David." Morydd, 55. hendrev, a habitation. Hendrev 

an epithet applied to David's chil- was the name given to a winter, and 

dren. Morydd, the son of Dan, the Havod to a summer residence in the 

29th king of Britain, was highly pastoral ages, 
esteemed for his valour and generous- 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 



335 



XVIII. 

I NICOLAS RYD, O GASTELL MOEL. 



Nicholas Rudd is described as living in a magnificent mansion, stand- 
ing upon an eminence, on the banks of the Towy, and overlooking the wood 
below, where there was a port, or harbour, which was continually frequented 
by vessels conveying thither goods of every kind. 



Nawdd Iesu ar y bual, 
Nic'las Ryd, yn cloi sir hal. 
Arwydd arwydd a arwain, 
A maner gwyr maenawr Gain ; 
Brain a arwain yn wrol, 
Bran yw nerth barwn iV ol. 
Nic'las Ryd a gyvyd gwin, 
Er ei vardd, dan Gaervyrddin ; 
A minnau yma enyd 
Yn cael ser aur Nic'las Ryd. 
Aur yw 'r ty ar war Tywi, 
Ac yn dwr oil, ac yn dri ; 
Un o ser yr hen Seirioel 
Ydyw lie mae 'r Castell Moel. 



12 



XVIII. Addressed to Nicholas 
Rudd, or Reed, of Castell Moel, 
or Green Castle, near Caermarthen. 
Arms : — azure a lion rampart or. 
The Rudds are descended from Sir 
William Rudd, of Meath in Ireland. 
Sir John Rudd, knight of the Sepul- 
chre, of this family, was constable of 
Ystrad Meirig castle. He went to 
Palestine with Richard I. ; and on 
his return from thence was assassi- 
nated, in Austria, when his master 
was detained a prisoner by the re- 
vengeful Leopold, in the year 1192. 
Rice Rudd, of Aberglasney, Avas cre- 
ated a baronet by Charles I. on the 
eighth of December, 1628. 

2. Nic'las Rhyd yn cloi sir hal, 
" Nicholas Rudd, whose mansion is 



upon an eminence at the end of the 
marsh." 

Sir hal, for tir hal, a salt marsh ; 
a marshy land. The marsh, or sir 
hal, lies between, and extends from, 
Castell Moel to Caermarthen. 

4. manawr Gain, the parish of 
Llan Gain, where Castell Moel is 
situated. Llan Gain is in the Cwmwd 
of Gwydigada, Cantrev mawr, (now 
the hundred of Derllys, Caermarthen - 
shire. There is no Welsh saint, on 
record, of the name of Cain; it is 
therefore probable that the name is 
an abbreviation of Ceinwen, (cain- 
gwen) one of the daughters of Bry- 
chan. 

- 14. Castell Moel, the mansion not 
castellated, or Green Castle. " It is 

z 4 




LEWIS GLYX COTHI. 

Mae i Nic'las dwr glas i'w glod, 

Gwyndeiswyn nis gwnaed isod. 16 

Mae i Nic'las, dan ei bias blawr, 

Wydd a phorthva dda frwythvawr ; 

Badau a aeth, a phob da, 

OV buarthvor i'r borthva. 20 

A ddel o longau Selont 

I'r Veri ; i Dywi y dont ; 

A ddel o win i'r dinas, 

Ev a ddaw heb law ei bias. 

Mae 'r eawg, mae wyr Owain, 

Mae 'n wr gwych, yn maenawr Gain ; 

Nic'las, o'r ty enwogclyd, 

Ab Ed wart ab Risiart Ryd. 28 

Bvva euraid mab Urien, 

Bo 'n cael swydd mab Nic'las hen ; 

Post oedd yn pwysaw deuddeg, 

Penrhan dur y Penrhyn deg ; 32 

Priodas Nic'las a wnaeth 

A rhieinverch hir winvaeth ; 

Si wan verch Sion a yv win, 

OV wraig orau ei hegin ; 36 

Annes ei mam oedd hono, 

Y sydd a'i grudd is y gro. 

Merch i Rosser vu 'r seren 

Ysgwl a'i wisg o haul wen ; 40 



live miles from Caermardine ; and W. O. Pughe's Diet. 

about four miles above Llanstnfan on 21. Se/owi = Saladine = Sultan. 

the same ripe is a place or cliff called JLlongau Selont, princely, or stately, 

Grene castle, wherein ships used to vessels. 

lye at ancre. It is also called Castle 22. Fm,Burry Bay, or Burr y river, 

Mole, and supposed the Humfreys formerly avon Llwchwyr (Lhvch- 

castle of Dr. Powel, and built by Gwyr) ; Gower Bay, or lake, the 

Uchtred, prince of Merioneth, 1138." boundary between the counties of 

Camden's Britannia, vol. ii. p. 507. fol. Glamorgan and Caermarthen. Lewis 

15. dicr glas, the bard here alludes Morris. It is more probable that by 

to the exterior of Castell Moel not Veri here, is meant Llan y Veri, or 

being whitewashed like the farm- Ferry side, situated, agreeably to the 

houses of the country. Hence, per- poem (hne 22), on the mouth of the 

baps, the origin of Green Castle (twr Towy. 

glas). 23. Dinas, the town of Caermar- 

20. Pr borthva, see porthva in Dr. marthen. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 337 

I Siwan mam oedd Annes, 

I Dduw nev mae heddy w 'n nes ; 

Ni chair o hon ucho, rhawg, 

Verch unair o Vrycheiniawg; 44 

Da oedd Amies am wahodd, 

Siwan ei merch sy un modd. 

Mae 'mryd Nic'las Ryd 3 yr hav, 

Ar gadw ach o'r gwaed uchav ; 4 8 

Wyr Owain hael, o'r un hawnt 

Mae o Eilfordd o'r Malfawnt ; 

Ag Urien bu 'r gwr un barch 

Wedi 'ganvod o Gynvarch. 52 

Breuddwydiwr a bardd ydwyv, 

Yn closiaw iaith Nic'las wy v ; 

Ei 'stdd ev a ddyrchevir 

Wyl liar hael a'i loer hir ; 56 

Gwyl Vair y cair, ac y caid, 

Ar ei war aerwy euraid ; 

A dwynos cyn dyw Ynyd 

Cael S ar wn Nic'las Ryd ; do 

S wen a'th droes i ynys, 

S o'r aur ar nai Syr Rhys. 



46. Siwan, Joan, wife of Nicholas prince of Reged. He was a saint 

Rudd, was the daughter of Roger and founder of Llan Gynvarch in 

Ysgwl, or Schowl, by his wife Agnes. Maelor, which was destroyed by the 

50. Eilfordd = Gilford. Malfawnt Saxons in the battle of Bangor Or- 

= Maliphant, was a Norman sur- chard, A. D. 603. Camb. Biog. 

name in the Vale of Usk, Brecknock- 54. closiaw (clws), to make com- 

shire. pact ; to make neat or trim : tlysu 

52. Cynvarch, son of Meirchion, (tlws): harddu. 
a chieftain of the Northern Britons, 55. Ei 'stad, " his estate." 
who lived about the middle of the 62. Syr Rhys, sir Rice Rudd, bro- 
fifth century. He married Nevyn, ther to Richard Rudd, the grand- 
one of the daughters of Brychan, by father of Nicholas Rudd. 
whom he had the celebrated Urien, 



338 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XIX. 

HYWEL AB HENRI, O BARC Y RHUN. 



This ode is one of the tocsins of the bard, sounding " To arms," or 
" Deuwch Vr vrwydr" written about the time that he addressed Davydd 
Goch, previous to the battle of Pennal. This ode was intended to rouse 
Hywel ab Henri and his clan to revenge the death of his countrymen at the 
battle of Banbury, in 1469, by carrying fire and sword to the gates of York. 
The bard promises (in line 24) to meet his hero, on his return, at Chester, 
* yved gwin ac i orvoleddu. 



Gras sain Nicolas, trwy nerth Celi, hy 

Yt Hywel ab Henri ; 

Wyr Wilym yn rheoli, 

Oedran dAr a 'n dy ran di. 4 

Mae i ti, vab Henri, "m mhob ban arddelw 

Urddas Tom as Vychan ; 

Mae dau dir am dy darian, 

Mwy no dwy rent mae "n dy ran. 8 

Penrhan gyda 'r Vran i'th vrenin ydwyd, 

adail Caervyrddin ; 
Chwythwch veichiau o eithin, 

1 roddi gwres i'r Nordd grin. 12 

To crin ! tan eithin un wedd a boetha 

Bythod gwyr y Gogledd ; 

Trwsia Hywel trwy 'r Heledd, 

Tan hyd gil lore; tyn dy gledd. 16 

O'r Gogledd dy gledd ar dy glun vo aur, 

Yvory 'n Mharc y Rbun ; 

Y dreth o lore, hyd Ruthun ; 

A yr Sais o'i ras ei hun. 20 

XIX. Addressed to Howell ab Henry, of Park y Rhun. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 339 

Dy hun, val brig rhosyn cry v, 

A dry Nordd draw yn warddov ; 

Didrist y deui adrev ; 

Down i Gaer, dy win a gav. 24 

Ni a gawn yma naw gwin o Amias, 

A gwin bywiawg graens; a gwin Ippocras ; 

Verneswin di brin wedi berwi ias ; 

Gwin val ei vrenin heb verwi unias ; 28 

Gwrda wyd yna, diwynias ; tyn ! tyn ! 

Grweiddyn ac impyn trwy V byd o gwmpas. 

Mae enaid gwrawl y mewn dy guras ; 

Mae yt wyr y nawplwyv; mae yt air y nawplas; 32 

Mae y t lawer gwr ; mae yt lawer gwas ; 

Mae yt lawer o dir ; mae yt lawer das ; 

Mae yt glod o'm tavod divas, diover, 

Megys y rhoes cler; megys Rhys y Clas. 34 

Draig wyd o Wilym a dyr gwayw dulas, 

Ac a wna 'n Warwig on yn eirias ; 

Da ydyw dy ryw, a da y w dy dras ; 

Dy ran olau oedd Vrutus Darianlas ; 40 

Rhan o Doneuan hyd yn Euas dud, 

Rhan Beli, ctrwy'r brud, a Rhun Baladr Bras. 

Hywel dy wyneb yw haul y Dinas, 

Ni bu oleuach wyneb Elias ; 44 

Dy air yw wyneb yr holl deyrnas, 

Aeth o awen beirdd i'th wyneb urddas ; 



25. Amias, Amiens. 40. Brutus Darianlas = Brut Da- 

26. graens — grains : the plant or rian Las, or Brutus of the azure- 
seeds of Cardamonum, which is a coloured shield, father of Lleon Gawr, 
spicy seed of a pleasant hot taste the eighth king of Britain, 
brought from East Indies; one kind 41. Doneuan — Tenevan, the son of 
of which is called grains of Paradise. Lludd and nephew of Caswallon, or 
Baily's Diet. Cassivellaunus. 

34. Rhys y Clas, some warrior of 42. Rhun Baladr Bras, Rhun of 

note in his day from perhaps Clas ar the thick spear, the son of Lleon 

Wy, now Glasbury. Gawr, the ninth king of Britain. 



340 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Wyneb glaiv ni saiv, neu sias, ger dy vron ; 
Ni bu 'r un un fon ; na brenin un fas. 



48 



Wynebwr wyd, a gwr yn bwrvv dy gas ; 

Uwch yw dy wyneb no neb o naw as 

A vu wyneb i'r un, o van a bras> 

Oni bu i Vair wen wyneb vwy ei ras? 

Un hav ni byddav rhwng dwr bas, ni bwyv, 

Heb dy vudd Tth blwyv ; heb dy vedd i'th bias. 

I'th groesi Hywel, mab Zacharias, 

Egwad, saint Emwnt, gyda saint Tonias ; 

Santa Maria, sante Barnabas ; 

Santi Loyw aco; a santi Lucas; 

Saint Curig; Meilig; Mel was Iscenen ! 

Saint aco Elien ; a saint 'Icolas. 



52 



56 



60 



48. fas; perhaps fess : one of the 
honourable ordinaries, and contains 
a third of the field. Some authors 
say it was a belt of honour, given as 
a reward by kings, &c. for services 
in the army. Clark's Heraldry. 

59. Melwas Iscenen, " A Melwas, 
or prince of Iscenen ;" an epithet ap- 
plied to Howell ab Henri, the hero of 
the ode. 

In the Glossary to Davydd ab 
Gwilym's poems one Melwas is said 
to be a prince of North Britain, and 
that his territory was probably the 
present county of Galway. 

60. Elien = Elian, a saint, son of 
Alltu Rhedegawg ab Carcludwys ab 
Cyngu ab Yspwys ab Cadrawd Calch- 
vynydd. His mother was Cyna, 
daughter of Tewdwr Mawr ab Emyr 
Llydaw. Several churches in Wales 



are dedicated to him. His legend 
says that he came from Rome and 
settled in Anglesea in the time of 
Caswallon Law-hir. He is often 
called Elian Ceimiad, which implies 
that he was a traveller or pilgrim. 
There is a poem on the legend of 
Elian written by Gwilym Gwyn. 
Llanelian in Rhos is dedicated to 
him ; and his well is there, called 
Fynon Elian, wherein, on paying a 
fee to the 0"w ner, persons devote the 
names of their enemies, so that they 
may be afflicted with such pains as 
may be mentioned at the time when 
the ceremony of devoting them takes 
place. This wicked and superstitious 
custom is still, more or less, continued 
to the disgrace of our nation. See 
Cambro-Briton, vol. III. p. 202. 
saint 'Icolas = Nicolas, St. Nicholas. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 341 



) 



XX. 

I OVYN MARCH I WYR ELVAEL. 



" The blessed God, to the last day of my existence, will direct me to go 
into the land of the generous ones. There was a time when I went thither 
rejoicing in my youth ; but now it is otherwise ; for I am become a morose 
old man, — a feeble pedestrian, scarcely knowing how to move along. In 
Elvael I have ever been well treated, — I have received gold from the men of 
Elvael ; but, in my case, it appears, that the more one gets the more he will 
want to have ; for I am going to throw myself again once more on the 
generosity of the men of Elvael, — they will not deny me a horse." 

The above is the sum and substance of the former part of the poem : the 
rest is taken up in giving a description of the horse he wishes to have, and 
in praise of Elvael. 



Duw vendig, hyd vy undydd, 

I'r wlad hael a erlid hydd ; 

Bum gynt draw ieuanc la wen, 

Oddi yna hwnt, heddyw 'n hen, 4 

Ac yn hen ddig yn eu hoi, 

Yn bedestr anwybodol. 

Er cael aur dwy Elvael deg, 

Yma chwennych i'm chwaneg; 8 

Chwennych ydd wyv varch yno, 

A'i gael aH wn o ddu 'r glo. 

Ni'm dawr oV Vaenawr i'r Van, 

O ry w vaeart rhy vuan ; 1 2 

Yn Hew main oil y mynwn, 

Yn gawr cryv, neu yn garw crwn ; 

Mor deg aV march mawr ei dad, 

Mor ddov i mi a'r ddavad. 1(3 

Hawdda' gwaith heddyw ei gael, 

I'r ddalva, o'r ddwy Elvael; 



XX. Addressed to gentlemen re- 1. vendig =vendigedig, 

siding in Elvael, a district in Radnor- 12. vaeart =baeart= bayard, a bay 

shire, divided into Elvael Is Mynydd, horse. Bailey 's Diet. 
and Uwch Mynydd. 



342 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ac eilwaith, mal gwisg alarch, 

Gyvrwy moel i gyvro 'march ; 20 

A frwyn ver yn ei froen vo 

Yn ei atal rhag neitio. 

Dov ydwyv val yr alarch, 

Dov i'm ol ydy w vy march ; 24 

Vry moel ydyw 'r cyvrwy mau, 

Mal y Van moel wyv innau. 

Gorau dwy wlad ger dau lawr, 

Yw dwy Elvael adeilvawr ; 28 

A hwynt a droes Idnerth Hir; 

Ac Elystan, yn glostir; 

Ac eilwaith, yn llawn golud, 

Yn un clos o Einion Clyd. 32 

Ni bu Elvael un balvais, 

A deunaw Sir i don Sais ; 

Mwy yw Elvael no milvyrdd, 

Mwy no fair Manaw a'i fyrdd. 36 

Lied oedd, yn un droell deg, 

Droia no dwy o Roeg ; 

A Groeg a aeth a'i gwyr gynt 

Trwy wal Troia a'i helynt ; 40 

Gwyr dwy Elvael hwy a kn 

Drwy wledydd daiar lydan. 

bydd cerddwr heb iddo 

Arian, neu vedd, o'i ran vo; 44 

Gostynged, gwylied Ian Gwy, 

1 gael arian i Gleirwy ; 

O Gleirwy 'n ol galw ar nerth 

Ar ei ddwysawdl i Ddiserth ; 48 



29. a hwynt, &c. " Idnerth Hir, lord Rhys ab Grufydd ; and, in the 
and his descendant Elystan Glodrydd, year 1 1 77? was treacherously raur- 
converted the two Elvaels into a dered by the Normans. See PowelVs 
highly cultivated land (clostir)." History. 

32. clos, a close; a small field in- 46. Cleirwy, or Claerwy, a parish 

in Radnorshire, on the banks of tbe 



Einion Clyd, was lord of Elvael ; Wye, near its entrance into Here- 

and Cadwallon, his brother, was lord fordshire. Here, as well as to Diserth 

of Maelienydd, in the 12th century. and the neighbourhood of Aber Ed wy. 

This property they inherited from the bard recommends the minstrel, 

their ancestor Elystan Glodrydd. Ei- who may be in want of money, to 

nion Clyd married a daughter of the go. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 



343 



O'r Ddiserth a urddesir, 
Doed at Aber Edwy dir. 
Yn nerth y cai hwn wart h eg 
Yn aur tawdd, yn eiriau teg ; 
Yn yd yn nwylan Edwy, 
Yn veirch mawr yn vorach mwy. 
AV wyry' aV groes, a'r wir grog, 
Tros Elvael troes Tyvaelog ; 
Estyned ei chroes Dwynwen 
Dros wlad Vael, dros Elvael wen ; 
A Duw a vyn is gwlad Vael, 
A Sulvedd, groesi Elvael. 



52 



56 



00 



52. morach, joy ; satisfaction. 
56. Tyvaelog, a saint to whom Llan 
Dyvaelog, in Caermarthenshire, is de- 



dicated. 

58. gwlad Vael = Maelienydd, a 
cantrev adjoining that of Elvael. 



344 LEWIS GLYN COTHI, 



XXI. 



I DAVYDD GOCH AB HYWEL AB EINION, 
O WRTHEYRNION. 



David Gough is addi'essed as a powerful warrior, and as being an ex- 
ceedingly wealthy man, — possessing immense herds of cattle. He is said to 
he very partial to the chase, and to all kinds of manly or athletic exercises, in 
which he greatly excelled. In his house he is said to he liberal ; and with 
respect to his disposition, mild and gentle. His person is represented as heing 
handsome and well made. He is moreover said to possess great muscular 
strength. 



Dydd da 'r gwrola" hyd R6n, 
Dewr grymus o dir Garmon ; 
Davydd Goch, ysgatvydd gwell, 
Yw nog ungwr, neu gan'-gwell ; 
Beuno Davydd ab Einiawn, 
Bwriwyd i'w dal bryd a dawn. 
Gredivel Hyvvel gan' hav, 
Gwreiddyn a gorwyr Addav ; 
Cadarnav gwr yw Davydd, 
Cyvoethocav, haelav hydd. 



XXI. Addressed to David Gough ther's name was Beren, daughter of 

ab Howell ab Einion, of Gwrtheyrn- Llawdden. Ynyr, king of Gwent, 

ion, Radnorshire. became his disciple, and gave him 

2. o dir Garmon, St. Harmon's, lands, &c. He founded the abbey of 

a parish in Gwrtheyrnion, or the Clynog in Caernarvonshire, A. D. 61 6. 

western part of Radnorshire, of which All the calves and lambs that were 

Garmon is the patron saint. Clas cast with slit ears were offered to 

Garmon, one of the three townships him ; and to this day calves having 

of the parish. this mark are highly regarded by 

5. Beuno Davydd, &c. that is, Da- the farmers. Among several other 

vid Gough may be esteemed a St. churches dedicated to him is that of 

Beuno ; for he is possessed of a noble Llanycil, near Bala. There is also 

countenance, as well as good natural a farmhouse near the church called 

abilities. Bron Veuno, — the property of Jesus 

St. Beuno was the son of Bugi ab College, Oxford. 

Gwynlliw ab Glywis ab Tegid ab 8. Gwreiddyn, a root : here, a 

Cadell, prince of Powys. His mo- sucker growing from the root. 






Y DOSPARTH IV. 345 

O thraianir Gwrtheyrnion, 

Y traian yw val tir Noti ; 12 

Gan gwyl, goresgyn a gar, 

A'i dda ieuainc y ddaiar. 

Blaen March deg ei wartheg oedd 

Yn ei lliwiaw yn Uuoedd; \6 

Rhai 'mlaen Gwy vwyvwy a el, 

Rhai ar ddaiar hir ddwel ; 

Mil vry yn amliwiaw y vron, 

Teirmil deutu i Armon ! 2G 

Digriva"' gwrda o'r gwyr 

Yw i vyd val hen Vedwyr ; 

Evo a wna, mor vwyn yw, 

A wnai Isaac neu Esy w ; 24 

Cau irwydd ynghylch y ceirw, 

Caru hyddgwn cyrhaeddgeirw ; 

Gestwng i'r nant hyddgant teg, 

Gwyliaw rhyd i gael rhedeg. 28 

Draw dyvod adre Davydd, 

Galw ei vardd i gael ei vudd ; 

Dodi *r wyl, Tm didreuliaw, 

Droell aur ar dor y Haw. 32 

Cwrw Gweble, yn nghartre hwn, 

Yw vy ansawdd a Venswn. 

Pe archiad dengwlad pob dyn, 

Pe bai vardd pob overddyn ; 36 

Gan yr hael ev a gai 'n rhodd, 

O dir Garmon, dri gormodd. 

O gampau gwell nog imp gwydd, 

Yr oedd ddwy vil ar Ddavydd ; 40 

11. thraianir, &c. "Should to shed, or pour ; lavish. 

Gwrtheyrnion be divided into three 22. Bedwyr, king Arthur's chief 

portions." Traianu (for trianu, from butler. Boedwyr oedd Bentrulliad 

the root tri, three), to divide into Arthur. Lewis Morris. 

three parts. 31. didreuliaw, see Dr. W. O. 

15. Blaen Marchdeg, the upland Pughe's Diet. 

pasture on the river Maxxhdeg. ?>2. Droell aur, a gold wheel ; a 

18. Rhai ar y ddaiar, &c. "Others gold roundpiece ; a piece of gold, 

on the lowland in exceeding abund- 39. imp gwydd, an allusion to Ja- 

ance." cob's rods. 

Dwel, (corruption of dywall), apt 



546 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Aravwch, tegwch y tad ; 

Addwynder y ddau hendad ; 

Dewredd Lawnslod a'i $ryd, 

Nerth yr hen Arthur a'i hyd. 44 

Mae 'n dwyn, mewn deau ynys, 

Grym pump o gawri "mhob bys ; 

Grym dwy wyddar, grym deuddeg; 

Grym naw i dir Garmon deg. 48 

Rhoed llun Addav i Ddavydd, 

A lliw o nev, a Haw Nudd ; 

A dwrn sarf, i'w droi yn sel, 

A gravanc wr o ryvel. 51 

Goreu un gwr ei wyneb, 

Gwr na wyr ddigaru neb ; 

Gwr arianawg digryno, 

Gwr yw a'i aur val y gro. 56 

Arian y gwr hwn a gav, 

Aur yr un gwr a ranav ; 

Arian gylch arno a gawn 

Aur unwedd ar wyr Einiawn. (50 



43. Lawnslod, sir Lancelot, one of of one tree across a stream. 

Arthur's knights in romance. He 52. A gravanc = a chravanc, &c» 

was the father of Sir Galaeth. " with the grasp of a warrior. 1 * 

47. gtvyddar, a temporary bridge 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 347 

XXII. 

I'R BEDO COCH, O RAIADR GWY. 



This is an excellent poem, written to condole with Bedo Coch, a brave 
and intrepid warrior, who had received, in the wars, a severe sabre-cut in his 
face — leaving a scar in shape of the letter S. 









Y dewr o gylch Rhaidr Gwy 
A droai waed o dair adwy ; 
Bedo Coch, heb arbed caith, 

Bwrw dy enw Tr brud unwaith. 4 

Y mae ardeml Maredydd 

I'th law 'n rhod rhwng wytblin rhydd ; 

Y mae treth Hywel Gethin, 

Yngo 'n y Hall rhwng naw llin. 8 

vrigyn llin Einion Llwyd 

1 waitb rhy vel yth rivwyd ; 
A'th rieni "'n Ngwrtbeyrniawn 

A garai gwir gwyr kg iawn. 12 

Nid bawdd i neb gynneu tan 

Yn y don, ac nid anian ; 

Nid haws lie bo 'r wyneb tau 

Dy orvod o hyd arvau. 16 

Mae ndd eich bod y Bedo 

A chorf hael ni charai fo ; 

Y llyvrav, gwanav, ar gil, 

Ei vrig a vriw ei wegil ; 20 

A'r dewra 1 oil i gadw 'r iawn 
Yn ei wyneb yn uniawn. 

XXII. Addressed to Bedo Cocb, spark of fire from the wave ; for na- 

or Rufus, of Rhaiadr Gwy. ture is against him : equally difficult 

5. ardeml, a mansion, a seat. is it to overcome thee (Bedo) in an 

13. Nid hawdd, Sec. " It is not encounter." 



an easy task for any one to elicit a 



% K% 






348 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

O'th ddewredd, val merthyri, 

Y bu dor i'th wyneb di ; 24 

Velly, val gwaith Avallach, 

Athrawon nev i'th roi "n iach ; 

Duw a yrodd a'i darian, 

Ac Eli, yt ysbryd gl&n. 28 

Tormeus, is talm o oesoedd, 

Meddyg yt, medd Iago, oedd ; 

Ippocras, vab cywir iawn, 

Eithr well well gwaith Rhiwallawn. 32 

Rhinwedd mab Ieuan veddyg 

Ar dy rudd val aur a drig ; 

Da yr orgrafa Grufydd, 

Deintur gras, oV daint i'r grudd. 36 

Llythyren, uwchlaw 'r genau, 

Llun S aur oil i'n hoywsau ; 

Sawduriodd (ni wniodd neb 

Sidanwaith) ar draws d 1 wyneb. 40 

Si?nant, vegis Croes Owmal, 

Seined Duw y sy 'n y tal. 

25. Avallach, from whom Glaston- with his three sons Cadwgan, Gruf- 

bury was called Ynys Avallach, Avas ydd, and Einion, he drew up a full 

grandfather to Owain ab Urien account of the practice of physic, as 

Rheged. Owain's mother was Mo- then known to them. There are se- 

dron, daughter of Avallach. Trioedd. veral MS. copies of this work now 

Gwaith Avallach, gwaith Avallon ; extant. An edition of it, with notes, 

" the battle of Avallon :" called also &c. is now being prepared for the 

the battle of Camlan, where Arthur press by our patriotic countryman 

was mortally wounded ; and after- David Lewis, esq. M. D. Surgeon to 

wards buried in the isle of Avallach, the Military Depot, Bunhill Row, 

now called Glastonbury, in Somer- London. 

setshire. Glastonbury bears three 33. Ieuan veddyg — Grufydd ab 

names, Ynys Wydrin, Ynys Avail- Ieuan Veddyg, the name of the sur- 

ach, and Ynys Avallon. geon who attended on Bedo Coch. 

29. Tol'meus = Ptolemy, one of the 38. hoywsau = hoy wi, to exhila- 

most celebrated officers of Alexander rate. 

the Great. He was honoured by the 39. sawduriodd, &c. The bard says 

citizens of Rhodes with the appella- here, that the wounded parts on 

tion of Saviour. Bedo's cheek were joined ; and, as it 

31. Ippocras = Hippocrates, the were, cemented together and healed, 
greatest physical! of antiquity, was without having had recourse to sew- 
born in the island of Cos, in the year ing. 

B. C. 450. 41. Simant, &c. "A cement, simi- 

32. Rhivallawn, a celebrated phy- lar to an enamelled cross, is visible 
sician, of Myddvai in Caermarthen- in thy countenance." The bard here 
shire, who lived in the beginning of draws a comparison between the sup- 
the 13th century. In conjunction posed virtues emanating from an ena- 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 349 

Y mryd y\v, mab Maredydd ! 

Euraw y graith ar y grudd ; 44 

Eli, o waith engylion, 

O vyrr, a thus, vo wrth hon ; 

Aed o weddi y deuddeg, 

Ac o wyrth Duw, yn graith deg ; 48 

Bydd bellach holliach i'th oes, 

Bedo aro bedeiroes. 

Dioval ydyw 'r tal tau, 

Dibryder rhag bod bradau ; 52 

A di garc wyd, a di gur ; 

A di ddal, a di ddolur ; 

A di nag ydwyd i neb, 

A di anav vo d , wyneb. 56 



melled crucifix, and the not less effi- who attended Bedo Coch. 

cacious ones of the Basilicon salve Croes Owmal = Croes Ynamel ; an 

of Grufydd ab Ieuan, the surgeon, enamelled crucifix. 



2aS 



350 LEWIS GJLYN COTH1- 

XXIII. 

I SION A HYWEL, MEIB IEUAN COCH, O ELVAEL. 



The two brothers are addressed as being descendants of Cadwgan, son of 
Elystan Glodrydd ; and as living near each other. The bard mentions with 
delight the pleasure he had in visiting them. " Quicker am I," he says, "on 
my journey to them than the wind, when it carries the drifted snow ; 
quicker than the flight of the hawk or the eagle when falling on their prey ; 
quicker also than the speed of the stag when pursued by the hounds." After 
this he addresses both the brothers as being fond of literature, and as giving 
instruction to their two younger brothers. He then concludes by observing, 
that although they were two, yet were they, like Rolando and Oliver, but one 
in mind, and delighting to follow the same pursuits. 



Deuwr hael sy ? n Elvael wen, 

Y ddau ddewr, yn ddwy dderwen ; 

Deuvab dda eu dwy avael, 

leuan Coch oedd benaig hael. 4 

Wyrion Cadwgon, ill dau, 

Ydyw V ceirw a dyr caerau ; 

Sion, lwyddiannus ei wyneb, 

A Hywel, nid mor hael neb ; 8 

Nid oes, eithr nod y saethydd, 

Yn nghoettir rhwng y tai rhydd ; 

A saethydd glew wyv Lewys, 

A dwy wal yw eu dwy lys. 12 

Saethu a vvnav gerdd davod 

O'r ddwy en ym Tr ddau nod ; 

Saethu cywydd dros Ieithon 

Yn vy swydd a wnav i Sion ; J 

Bollt lie del Hywel er hyn 

Ydyw awdl o Wawdodyn, 

XXIII. Addressed to John and 12. A dwy wal, " two places of re- 

Howel, the sons of leuan Coch, of pose ;" that is, both their mansions 

Elvael. were places where persons might go 

9. Nid oes, &c. that is, there was and be welcomed, 

but, as it were, a bowshot distance of Myned i wal = myned i wely, to go 

woodland between the two mansions to bed. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 351 

Gwn yn deg, ac yn segur, 

Gwareu Barrs rhwng deugarw bur. 20 

Vy nhraed a vu yn rhedeg 

Obry rhwng eu deudy 'n deg; 

Un hynt wyv yno *n ei ol, 

Ar yr ynys, a'r wenol ; 24 

Cynt wyv at ddau vab leuan 

Noc awel wynt i ben glan ; 

No 't 6d gwyn ar hyd gweunydd, 

Ac no 'r gwalch gwinau i'r gwydd ; 28 

No 'r eryr hen i'r oral It, 

Ac no 'r iwrch gan gwn fv allt 

Overwr, llawn o variaeth, 

I Sion wyv ; rosyn y iaith I 32 

Ni alwav ar gerdd davawd 

O lyvr; ond Hywel ei vrawd. 

Y mae dau vroder eraill, 

AV ddau 'n dysgu llyvrau "r UailL 3§ 

Pedeirdar o'r unddar ynt, 

Pedwar o adar ydynt ; 

Ni bu lesg gael hyn o blaid 

O'r un gwr yn gy wiriaid ; 40 

Sion y w cyf dros leuan Coch, 

Yn hydd hyny a wyddoch ; 

Hywel ydyw 'r gainc hoewav 

Hen gyf o hwnw a gav. 44 

Y ddeulew, yn y ddwywlad 5 

Y sy ddau gleddau i'w gwlad ; 
Duw a roes ddeuglawr Voesoen 

Yn ddelwau aur yn ddwy len. 48 



20. Gwareu Barrs, " to play pri- ters, sometimes at one and sometimes 

son-bars." A quaint expression in at the other brother's house, 

frequent use by our bard, and his 31. Overwr, &c. " a jester full of 

contemporaries, signifying to assault, his fun am I." Overwr, a jester : 

or storm, a fortress. The expression also an idler ; a squanderer; a tippler, 

in this line must be understood in a 47. Deuglawr Voesen, the two ta- 

friendly sense ; namely, that the bard bles of the Law, or the Ten Com- 

used frequently to beat up his quar- mandments. 

2a4 



352 



LEWIS GLYN COTH 



Dau yw awyr a daiar, 

Dau gorf y sydd iddynt gar ; 

Deuddydd oedd undydd i ddyn, 

I Rolant ar ei elyn ; 

Dau vrodyr yw *r gwyr a gad 

I'n yn geirw, yn un gariad ; 

Dwy seren sydd arbenig, 

Deuwr i droi dur a drig. 

Iesu ! hwnw sy henwr, 

A roddo oes i'r ddau wr. 



52 



.56 



52. Rolant, Roland or Orlando, so 
famous in the annals of romance, is 
said to have been the nephew of 
Charlemagne. There is a full ac- 
count of his feats, &c. and those of 
his redoubtable compeer Oliver, in 
the French metrical Roman de Ron- 
cevaux, in the Royal library at Paris, 
analyzed by M. Monin ; and also in 
another romance belonging to the 



cycle of Charlemagne and his heroes, 
entitled Fierabras, which is found 
both in the Provencal and Norman 
French ; and from which is taken the 
English romance of Ferumbras ana- 
lyzed by Ellis. 

55. Dwy seren, &c. by the two 
stars here are meant the sun and 
moon. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 



353 



XXIV. 

I OVYN CYVRWY A'l HARNAIS I SYR HUW IOLO, AC I 

HYWEL AB IEUAN COCH, O LAN SANT FRAID 

YN NYFRYN GWY. 



The bard throughout the first eighteen couplets lavishes his praise upon 
his patrons in a very ingenious manner. After doing this he broaches the 
request he had to make to them ; namely, a present of a saddle. He then 
gives a description of the accompaniments of the saddle ; and, in tbe last 
line, intimates that Jasper, earl of Pembroke, would make him a present of 
a charger. 

The poem contains evidence that it was written before king Edward IV. 
came to the throne. 



Y ddeuwr hael, dda eu rhyw, 
A ry anrheg o'r unrhy w ; 

Y naill yw 'r urddawl, myn Non ! 

Llyg yw V ail a Haw greulon. 4 

Syr Huw, dda ei Gymmraeg, 

Iolo o dir Elvael deg ; 

Hywel yw 'r gwr hael arall 

Ab Ieuan Coch unben call ; 8 

Hywel Vychan, uchelwr, 

Oedd gyf boneddig o wr ; 

A hwyntau Gymmry ieuainc 

A ddaw o'i gorf yn ddwy gainc ; 12 

Fw gwlad, dau vugail ydynt, 

/ gyd, a'i dau geidwad ynt ; 

Un a chyvraith yn uniawn, 

A'r ail a'i wayw 'n wrawl iawn. 16 

XXIV. Addressed to sir Hugh for loriverth, the Welsh name for 

Iolo and Howel ab Ieuan Coch, of * Edward. In English we say Ned, 

Llansanfraid, Radnorshire. Howel for Edward. 

ab Ieuan Coch is the same person as 13. Vw gwlad, &c. =I'w gwlad i 

is mentioned in the last poem ; and gyd dau vugail ydynt, &c. 

it appears (from lines 29-32) that he 15. Un a chyvraith, &c. In this 

was related to sir Hugh. couplet the bard alludes to the pro- 

5. Syr Huw Iolo, the title Sir, fession of both his patrons, — the one 
among the Welsh clergy, was given being a priest and the other a war- 
to such as had not been graduated at rior. 
an university. Iolo is a friendly term 



354 LEWIS GLYX COTIII. 

Syr Huw a wisg amser hav 

Y Capan Pan o'r penav ; 
Hywel a wisg gap haiarn, 
A dur yn bais draw o'n barn, 20 
Syr Huw' Iolo 'n athro ni 
Ar Golas Abergwili. 
Yn Mynyw wen, y mae 'n wir, 
Dros dwy-wlad yr ystelir. 
Hywel oedd batel drwy 'r byd, 
A rhyvel ar wyr hevyd ; 

Yno y caiff o vlaen cant 

Y gorwydd, a'r gwayw ariant. 28 

Y ddau gar a wedda i gyd 
A geidw arnyn' gadernyd. 

Yn Llan Sant Fraid, unblaid ynt, 

Un waed un ddynion ydynt. 32 

Dduw ! ys hael y ddeuwr 

1 roddi aur y w 'r ddau wr ; 
Os rhy hael Syr Huw Iolo, 

Hywel o'i vath hael yw vo. 36 

Bardd wyv ar y llwybr ydd an' 

Anvedrus yn vy oedran ; 

Er cael da y gwyrda gwych 

Ceisio ydd wyv yno 'n vynych. 40 

Frwyn a harnais a geisiav, 

Cyvrwy 'n nyfryn Gwy a gav ; 

Dau hydd yn rhydd a\i rhoddant, 

Hywel, Syr Huw Iolo sant. 1 1 

Ar vy ebol pedolog 

I Gaer yr av wyl y Grog ; 

Dwyn ei ridels dan red eg 

A wna 'n y dail yno 'n deg; -4 8 

18. Capan Pan, a canonical or* member of it ; and also that he hail 

priest's cap made of fur : a fur cap. a stall in St. David's cathedral. 
Oivain Myvyr. 24. ystelir, from ysteliaw, to in- 

21. Syr Huw, &c " Sir Hugh is stall, 
our tutor over the college at Aber- 36. Hywel oH vath, &c. " Howel 

gwily." By Colas, or College, here is liberal of his money." 
is meant a Chapter-house. The Bi- 41. harnais, harness; an accou- 

shop of St. David used to hold a trement, whether for man or horse, 
chapter here; and from our bard we 47. rhidels, trappings, 

learn that sir Hugh was an active 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 355 

Ser o waith tlysau o Ron 

Yw 'r wisg ledr o ysglodion. 

E wisg y march dilesg, mau, 

Ryw gasul o wregysau, 52 

Hyd y dal, llygaid y dydd ; 

A hyd lawr val dail irwydd. 

Ar ei rawn dail o'r unwaith, 

Ac ar ei vrest yn gaer vraith. 56 

Harnais wych val rhew, neu ser, 

Ydyw 'r cyrs i doi 'r Cwrser; 

Ser yw gwisg vy Nghwrser gwyn, 

Syr Huw Iolo ! ser hylyn. 60 

Gormodd o unrhodd i wr 

Yw 'r ddwyarch a ry 'r ddeuwr ; 

Hwynt hwy a rydd Tra ddwyarch, 

Iarll Penvro evo rydd varch ! 61 



356 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

XXV. 

I BEDO CHWITH, O GRAIG RUNA, MAES HYVAIDD. 



This is a complimentary poem addressed to Bedo Chwith and his wife. 
The poet rejoices at the thought that Bedo should have married a lady from 
his neighbourhood. He expects therefore to receive a hearty welcome at 
their house, and a most sumptuous entertainment. He appears to be wish- 
ing for all the world to witness, and also to partake of, their festive board. 



Y gwr &'i dai uwch gwar dol, 

A^r wraig arav ragorol ; 

Bedo Chwith a bod chwethal, 

Yntau ym yno a'i tal ; 4 

Ail yw merch Wilym, a wisg 

Aur o ddeau ar ddwy wisg ; 

Gwenllian, da ei hanwyd 

O Gaio, llin marchog ilwyd. 8 

Mae o Wilym a Meilyr 

Winwydd teg a gynnydd tir ; 

Duw a'r Eglwys a dreiglawdd 

Dau enw yn un dan ei nawdd ; 12 

Dilesgwr du o Lasgwn 

Acw, a haul Cil y Cwm ; 

A'm bod beunydd yn rhodiaw 

Ar van o drev Rhuvain draw; 16 



XXV. Addressed to Bedo Chwith 8. llin marchog llwyd, " Gwenllian 

of Bryn Penardd, in the parish of is descended of the line of an ancient 

Glasgwm, Radnorshire. His wife marchog, or knight.'' The bard ap- 

Gwenllian was a native of Cil y pears not to have in view any par- 

Cwm. ticular marchog. 

Meilir 14. Cil y Cwm, a parish in the 

I hundred of Caio, Caermarthenshire, 

Hywel Llywelyn, o Vallaen South Wales. It is four miles north- 
north-west from Llandovery. 

Davydd Wiliam » 15. A'm bod, &c. " Being in the 

I [ habit of frequently walking over some 

Bedo Chwith = Gwenllian. or other of the remains of a Roman 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 357 

Bryn Penardd ! mor hardd y w hwn , 

Y Ciniaw a amcanwn : 
Edwy al bod, os adwaen, 

Yn Weble oil yn ei blaen ; 20 

A Thy wi 'n vedd iV thy walk ; 

Hwy a roid yn nhdr yr allt. 

A bod aur esgob Duran 

Yn ei lys yn nhal y Ian ; 24 

Ac arian yr hen Gyrys : 

Hyn a roid yn nhai wyr Rhys. 

chai wenith yn chwaneg, 

A val iV dai 'n Elvael deg ; 28 

Yno c'weirid yn unnos, 

A'i dreuliaw wnaid yr ail nos. 

Aed mab, o char yved medd, 

Hyd Lwyn Hoedliw a'i annedd, 32 

Dringo 'r Ian yno a wnav, 

1 dai 'r angel y dringav ; 
I riw ei dai, Avyr Hywel, 

Ac i'r man y dygir mel ; 36 

Y byd a a am ei ben 
Ev a lleuad Vallaen. 
Ev a avon yn vwyvwy 

Hyd y mor ac nid a mwy ; 40 

Minnau av, val yr avon, 

Atyn* vry Tr tai 'n y vron ; 

Mae i'r dynion vendithion da 

Yn nghwr gnvn yn Nghraig Runa ; 44 



town, when at Caio ; I therefore take 24. Yn ei lys yn nhal y Ian, u in 

upon me to suggest to the inmates of his palace on the brow of the emi- 

Bryn Penardd the following sumptu- nence." 
ous dinner." 32. Llwyn Hoedliw, name of a 

It is not unlikely but that this place; perhaps another mansion of 

poem was composed somewhere in Bedo; besides Bryn Penardd. 
the neighbourhood of Bryn Penardd, 38. Matt'den, a hamlet, partly in 

from whence he could see the house. the parish of Caio, and partly in that 

23. aur esgob Duran, " the gold of of Cil y Cwm. 
the bishop of Durham." It appears 44. Craig Runa, (written also 
that the bishopric of Durham was Cregrina, and Crugina,) is a parish 
proverbial for its wealth in the bard's in the hundred of Colwyn, Radnor- 
time, shire. 



358 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

I'r Bedo 'n ddwy-do ydd ant, 

I'r wraig wen yr eginant ; 

Deued Powys a Deau 

Hyd ar ddwy Went i dai 'r ddau. 48 

Gwenllian dda ei gwahodd, 

Y gwr i'r rhai'n a ddwg rhodd ; 

Y gwr a bair gVeiriaw bardd 

Ag aur beunydd, gwawr Benardd ! 52 

Mawr yw'r mor am oror Mon, 

Mwy y w doniau ym dynion ; 

Mawr yw hadau yn Mhrydyn, 

Mwy yw rhent y Cymmry hyn. 56 

Mair a'u gad yn mrig Edwy, 

Amen ! hyd y mynon" hwy. 



51. Y gwr, &c. " The husband gold, or of silver ; and a good enter- 
ever causes to put the bard in tune tainment. 

by presenting him with a piece of 57- yn mrig Edwy, " the source of 

gold." the Edwy," near to which Bedo's 

cyweiriaw bardd, is a figurative ex- mansion was situated. The Edwy 
pression borrowed from the act of joins the Wye at Aber Edwy. "Brad- 
tuning an instrument. The cyweir- wyr Aber Edwy" betrayed Llywelyn 
gorn, or tuning instrument, which y llyw olav. 
put the bard in tune, was a piece of 




Y DOSPARTH IV. 359 

XXVI. 

CYWYDD ARALL I BEDO CHWITH. 



We learn from this poem that the bard was not disappointed in his ex- 
pectations, expressed by him in his last poem, of being well received at Bryn 
Penardd ; and of the wealth which would be displayed on the occasion. He 
therefore, in addressing Bedo now, the second time, employs his whole energy 
in blazoning forth the praises of his host and hostess. 



Yr hydd, megys Ivor Hael, 

Treulvawr, o gantre Elvael ; 

Och ym ! ond y Bedo Chwith 

Yw eginyn y gwenith ? 4 

Un dwv yw hwn a Davydd, 

A Hywel un vettel vydd ; 

Un sail, un gorf a Meilir, 

Un bryd, un hyd, un way w hir ; 8 

Un ddart a Rhicart a Rhys, 

Un wyneb drwy 'r Wen Ynys. 

Mae arno vo, wrth roi 'vedd, 

Dau o enwau, nid unwedd ; 12 

Maredydd, myn Mair ! ydyw, 

Bedo a'i air drwy 'r byd yw. 

Dau oedd Ieuan Vedyddiwr 

O enwau gynt, aV un gwr; 16 

Ieuan oedd o Ioannes 

Enwau i lu a wnai les. 

Gwr enwawg vu 'n Nghraig Runa, 

Ac yno dwg enwau da ; 20 

Bedo "n llavurio vy Haw 

Y sydd ; bid einioes iddaw. 



XXVI. Another poem addressed a like mettle (un vettel) with Howel." 

to Bedo Chwith, of Bryn Penardd. David and Howel were brothers of 

5. Un dwv, &c. " He is of the Bedo Chwith. 
same growth with David and of 



360 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Arna' i y rhoes, o'r un rhan, 

Dri o erydr o arian ; 

Ac ar eu hoi y gwyr hau 

Arna'i had aur yn heidiau. 

Aur rial vry a heuwyd, 

Aur ethol, wyr Arthur lwyd ; 

Aur golau yn nhre Gwlen, 

Evo a roed i Vair wen ; 

Aur da a roes llavver dyn 

Ar y ddelw vawr o Ddulyn ; 

Ac urddas yw i gerddwr 

Ei euraw ev o ryw wr. 

Wyr Meilir a'i aur melyn 

A eurai ddwrn pob rhyw ddyn ; 

Ei rodd aur a'm eurodd i, 

O'i law ddeau wyl Ddewi ; 

Nosvvyl Ddewi, Gwenllian 

IV byd a roi 'r bwyd a ran ; 

Tranoeth, yvory, trenydd, 

Tradwy, megys vwyvwy vydd 

Llaw Wiliam ab Llywelyn ; 

Yno ei thad a wnaeth hyn. 

Llaw y verch, o Vallaen, 

Aval aur 5 yn Elvael wen ; 

Yr un verch a ranai vedd 

O lin urddawl o Wynedd. 

Y Hew oedd Syr Grufydd Llwyd, 

Yn wir hwnw a eurwyd ; 

Yn wir hwnw a arwedd 

Brio* ei law i beri swledd. 



2J 



28 



32 



36 



40 



44 



48 



52 



24. Dri o erydr, &c. " Three sil- 
ver ploughs he gave me." 

aradr arian, a silver coin with an 
inscription of the plough upon it. 

27. Aur rial, a piece of gold coin ; 
a noble. The noble was originaUy 
of the value of 6s. 8d. ; but, in the 
year 1422, the guardians of Henry VI. 
raised its value to 10s. ,• by which 
means, though it continued in the 



same form, both as to the rose and 
legend, it lost its name, and was ever 
after called Ryal. Under Henry VIII. 
it was current for lis. 3d., and in 
queen Elizabeth's time for 1 5s. 

31. Aur da, &c. An allusion is 
here made to persons offering gold to 
some sacred image of immense size at 
Dublin. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 361 

Hono a'r Bedo drwy'r byd 

Y sy unair es enyd ; 

Bedo a hono sydd hael, 

Ni henynt hwy a anhael ; 56 

Hwn a gavas hen gyvoeth, 

Hon sy dda, hwn sy ddoeth ; 

I hwn dda, i hon ddwyoes ; 

I hon oed, i hwnw oes ; 60 

I hon na ddel dim o haint, 

I dal hwn y del henaint. 

56. Ni henynt, &c " They spring from a generous stock." Henynt, from 
hanu, to be descended. 



2b 



362 



LEWIS GLYN COTH: 



XXVII. 

I BEDO CHWITH, HYWEL, AC IEUAN DU, TRIMEIB 
DAVYDD AB HYWEL AB MEILIR, O ELVAEL. 



This poem is written in praise of three brothers, in which the bard, with 
the aid of various similes, sets forth the excellency of each of them. 



Y trillew sy^ troi wellwell, 
Nid a fr llu drillew well ; 
Tri broder val tri eryr, 
Tri gwalch, nid mwy antur gwyr; 
Bedo Chwith biau adail, 
Hy wel y vron hael vu 'r ail ; 
A Ieuan Du, myn y dydd ! 
CTr tri awdur yw 'r trydydd : 
Gwiail Hywel Ambeilir, 
Gwinwydd teg a gynnydd tir ; 
Sylvaen grymus o Elvael, 
Saint teg a thri Phesont hael ; 
Blodau, yn lie 'r ymbleidir, 
Buallt deg ni bu well tir ; 
Myn Melangell ! nid gwell gwyr 
Antur ieuainc no 'r triwyr ; 
Teirfordd, ugeinfordd a gav 
I'r trithai o'r tir eithav ; 



12 



XXVII. Addressed to Bedo 
Chwith, Howell, and leuan Du, the 
three sons of David ab Howell ab 
Meilir, of Elvael. 

15. Melangel^ or Diva Monacella, 
the daughter of Cyvwlch, a saint who 
lived in the beginning of the sixth 
century. The patron saint of Pen- 
nant Melangell, Montgomeryshire. 
The cell of Melangell is in a rock 
near the church. This was reckoned 



a place of safety as well as sanctity. 
Iorwerth Drwyndwn, or Edward with 
the broken nose, took refuge here, 
when his younger brother, David, 
usurped the sceptre of North Wales. 
Edward was father to Llywelyn the 
First, who married Joan, daughter 
of John, king of England. The 
figure of Edward, in basso-relievo, is 
upon a tomb-stone, and is still shewn 
in the churclnKard. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 



363 



Fordd cerddorion union oedd 
I dai *r Bedo drwy'r bydoedd ; 
Fordd drwy ganol Llys Colwyn 
At yr ail mab a'r traul mwyn ; 
Fordd arall i ol gallu 
A wn i dai Ieuan Du ; 
Y fordd a vedrav o'i phen 
I dai 'r eleirch drwy Riwlen ; 
Medrav at drimeib Davydd, 
O medr gwalch y mud o'r gwydd. 
Bu i Noe drimeib yn wyr 
Wedi 'r euraw 'n dri eryr ; 
Mae yn Elvael drihael draw 
Yn dair osgl wedi 'r wisgaw ; 
AY wlad hono, a'r vro vry, 
Yw 'r tair rhan fr tri hyny. 
Tri brenin aeth iV ciniaw 
Gwlen drwy y glyn draw ; 
Tri unrhyw 'n dwyn tair anrheg, 
Un o'r tair oedd hen aur teg ; 
Tair anrheg deg i ddyn da 
Yw aur trwm y tri yma ; 



20 



24 



28 



32 



36 



40 



21. Colwyn, a cantrev, or hun- 
dred, in Radnorshire. The parish of 
Rhiwlen, or Rhulan, is in this hun- 
dred. Colwyn, from whom the can- 
trev takes its name, was one of the 
three distinguished shepherds of Bri- 
tain; the others were Pibydd Moel 
and Gwesyn. Colwyn was the shep- 
herd of Bran, son of Llyr, in Siluria. 

23. i ol gallu, "to seek for help." 

30. Wedi V euraw = Wedi eu 
heuraw. 

31. Mae yn Elvael, &c. " In El- 
vael there are three generous ones, 
three shoots from a noble stock, de- 
corated with honours, and always in 
readiness for an encounter." 

35, 36. Tri brenin — o Gwlen, "The 
three kings of Cologne." The bard 
here compliments the three brothers, 
Bedo, Howell, and Ieuan, with the 
above title. 

The three wise men who came to 



worship Christ are called, the three 
kings of Cologne, because the le- 
gend, or fable, respecting them ori- 
ginated at Cologne. Here also it 
was first printed under the title of 
Historia gloriosissimorum regum in- 
tegra. A translation of the above 
legend into French was printed at 
Paris in 1498. There is also an 
English version of it entitled, The 
Kynges of Coleyne. Among Arch- 
bishop Laud's collection of MSS. in 
the Bodleian Library, there is a beau- 
tifully written copy in English, on 
vellum. According to this legend 
there lived three kings at the time 
when Christ was born ; namely, Mel- 
chior, king of Nubia ; Balthasar, king 
of Saba; and Jaspar, king of Tharsis. 
The first of them offered gold; the 
second, frankincense ; and the third, 
myrrh. 

2b2 



364 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Tair canwyll vydd cadeiriog 

Yn gwyr ar deirban y grog ; 

Tri phricaid o'r hendaid hael 

Yw tri elvydd tir Elvael • 

Tri chorf heb dranc, heb orphen, 

I Deilo oedd rhwng dwy len ; 

Tri chorf dros uncorf y sydd 

Ucho mwynion Uwch Mynydd ; 

Tri alarch taer a welym 

Tri edn griff, tair adain grym ; 

Tri Ebostol Llys Colwyn, 

Tair Haw y medd, trillew mwyn ; 

Tri dyn, tri blodeuyn da, 

Teirdar ydynt o wyrda ; 

Tri hael brig Elvael, a'i gwyr, 

Teiroes vo i'r tri eryr. 



44 



48 



52 



56 



42, ar deirban, " upon three pro- 
minent or conspicuous parts." 

45, 46. Tri chorf— i Deilo, " Teilo 
had three bodies." It appears that 
there existed a historical legend re- 
specting Teilo, which has been, pro- 



bably, lost. 

48. Uwch My?iydd=E\vae\ Uwch 
Mynydd. 

50. edn grif— the griffin, an ima- 
ginary animal used in heraldry. 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 365 



XXVIII. 

I IEUAN DU AB DAVYDD AB HYWEL AMHEILIR, 
ELVAEL. 



" I have travelled here and there throughout the country, and have seen 
its wealth ; but found none of it for myself. No generous heart did I meet 
in any place I visited. The land of Elvael, however, is an exception ; for 
therein, and there alone, dwell the generous and the brave ; and amongst 
them Ieuan Du, whose fame for munificence as well as for valorous deeds is 
blazoned far and near. He suffered not the song of his bard to go unre- 
warded ; wherefore will I record his deeds, — the deeds of him who, lion-like, 
fought the battles of his country ; and conquered as he went along. Ieuan 
Du is the Arthur of his day ; and, like him, possessed himself of Caerlion, 
and the Round Table. Here also, like him, he feasted his brave companions 
in arms." 

The bard, after this, proceeds to give a description of Ieuan Du's mag- 
nificent hall, which was of solid and beautifully worked oak, and how he 
entertained his friends there ; and concludes by complimenting Ieuan Du's 
wife and children, and by alluding to the great wealth he possessed. 



Cerdded y bum y gwledydd 
Tra vu 'nhraed gartrev yn rhydd ; 
Gweled y bum a golwg 
Goludoedd drwy 'r gwledydd drwg. 
Gweled na chaid eu golud, 
Ac nid hael ugain o'u tud ; 
Gweled yn Elvael haelion, 
Gweled nad hael gwlad ond hon. 



XXVIII. Addressed to Ieuan Du, of Elvael. 
Meilir 
I 



Hywel Cadwgon 

I I 

Davydd Ieuan Coch 



Ieuan Du = Lleucu Sion Hywei 

2b3 



366 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Yn Elvael, ar ein ael ni, 
Mae hwyl wen mae haelioni ; 
Yn Elvael gavael y gwyr, 

Y mae eilwaith y milwyr; 12 
Yn Elvael dir Mael y medd, 

Am daro y mae dewredd. 

Yno y mae un o'm iaith 

A delai ddwy wlad eilwaith ; 16 

Ieuan Du hael, amnaid hydd. 

Ydyw evo ab Davydd. 

Am hil Hywel Amheilir 

Y mae y son drwy 'r pum sir. 20 
Mi a rois yma ar werth 

Gerdd i osawg o'r Ddiserth ; 

Yntau roes ym, nid trwy sor, 

Ei thrigwerth a pheth rhagor. 24 

Llew vu 'n nhrevi Caer Llion 

Ac ei wyr ar y vord gron ; 

Gorchvygodd rbanodd y rhain*, 

Oedd o drevydd, hyd Ruvain ; 28 

Disgyblu y bu mor bur 

Ieuan wrtlio hen Arthur ; 

Gorchvygu bu, ac y bydd, 

Yn chwe man yn Uwch Mynydd. 32 

I Ieuan y mae neuadd 

I gyd yn un o goed nadd ; 

Yno y mae yn ei mur 

A wresogai wr segur ; 36 

Gwres bwyd yn gyrsau bydol, 

Gwres yr aur, gwers ar ei ol ; 

Gwres y llyn goris y llaill, 

Gwres arian yn grwys eraill. 40 

Ieuan a'i vun wen evo 

A'u rhan i bob rhai yno ; 

Lleucu lawen lie clywoch 

Enwawg hael, verch Ieuan Coch ; 44 



Y DOSPARTH IV. 367 

Wyr Cadwgon yw bono, 

Wyr i vab Meilir ywvo; 

Diareb, myn wyneb Non ! 

Yw daioni y dynion. 48 

Ynt hwy 'n orau 'n eu tuedd 

Yn hau aur mal, yn rhoi medd ; 

Eu mamau, eu tadau ynt hwy, 

Eu broder uwch bro Edwy ; 52 

Eu plant hwy vydd apla i'n tir, 

Eu hwyrion hwy a eurir ; 

Hwyntau yw'r ddau, antur dda, 

Rhag eraill a ragora. 56 

Rhoes Iesu Leucu dan lw, 

A Haw hon i'r Hew hwnnw ; 

Rhoes gywoeth yn rhwysg leuan, 

Ac yn y rhwysg hwn a'i rhan ; 00 

Rhoes denont, rhoes dai yna, 

Rhoes daiar deg, rhoes dir da ; 

Rhoes aur crwn i hwn a hon, 

Rhoed einioes hir i'r dynion. 64 



Sb4 



[ 368 ] 
LLWYTH BLEDDYN AB CYNVYN. 



THE TRIBE OF BLEDDYN AB CYNVYN, BEING THE THIRD 

ROYAL TRIBE. 

Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, prince of Powys. 

Maredydd = Eva, granddaughter of Ednowain Bendew, one of the fifteen ennobled 
tribes of North Wales. 



Iorwerth Goch (Edward Rufus), lord of Mochnant, grandfather of sir Grufydd 
Vychan, knight of the order of St. John of Jerusalem ; and lord of 
Crugion and Bergedwyn, in Montgomeryshire. Sir Grufydd was called 
by his countrymen " Y Marchog gwyllt" (the Wild Knight) of Caer 
Hywel, from his romantic life, and the seat of his residence of this 
name in Montgomeryshire. The third in descent from him was I 

i ; 

Madog, who first assumed the permanent surname of Kynaston, from his place of 
residence, near Knocking, in the county of Salop. 

Jenkin Kynaston, steward of Ellesmere, in 13th Richard II. 

Madog Kynaston = . , . . daughter of Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland. 
He fell, together 
with his brother- 
in-law, Hotspur, 
at the battle of 
Shrewsbury, in 
1403. 

John Kynaston =* 

Grufydd Kynaston, = 
of Stocks. } 

Sir Roger Kynaston. 



THE PEDIGREE OF LADY ELIZABETH, 
THE WIFE OF SIR ROGER KYNASTON. 

Eleanor Holland = Edward Charleton, lord Powys. He was descended from John 



widow of Roger 
Mortimer earl of 
March, grandson 
to Lionel duke of 
Clarence, 2nd son 
to Edward III. 



Charleton, termed Valectus Domini Regis, born in Appley, 
near Wellington, Salop, in 1268. Created lord Powys, in 
right of his wife, by Edward II. 



Jane = Sir John Grey, knight ; afterwards lord Powys, in right of 



eldest da 
and heif. 



his wife. 



Henry Grey=Antigony, the illegitimate daughter of Humphrey, 
lord Powys. Created duke of Glocester. 

earl of Tankerville 
by Henry V. 

Elizabeth = Sir Roger Kynaston's second wife. 
| 
Humphrey Kynaston, the youngest son, called " The 
wild Humphrey." 



GWAITH 
LEWIS GLYN COTHI 

DOSPARTH V. 

LLWYTH BLEDDYN AB CYNVYN. 



I ROSSER CINAST. 



The drift of this poem is to ask Sir Roger Kynaston, and his lady, Eliza- 
beth Gray, for a complete suit of polished armour for a trooper of the name 
of Edward Davydd ab Siancyn, of Erbistock near Ruabon, Denbighshire. 



Y R arglwydd aV arglwyddes 
A wna iV wlad hon ry w les ; 



I. Addressed to sir Roger Kynas- 
ton, knight, of Hordley; and con- 
stable, or governor, of Knocking Gar- 
rison ; and Middle Castle, in Shrop- 
shire. 

The family of the Kynastons may 
trace their descent in an unbroken 
line of male succession, for about 
twenty-five generations, from one of 
the most celebrated of the native 
princes of Wales upon the eve of the 
Norman conquest. 

Sir Roger was a Yorkist; and, as 
a soldier, was reckoned one of the 
most able and illustrious heroes of his 
time. He was present, mounted " on 
his white charger" (ar ei gwrser 
gwyn) at the battle of Bloreheath, 
near Drayton, Shropshire, Septem- 
ber 22nd, 1459, under the command 
of the earl of Salisbury. At this 



battle lord Audley, the Lancastrian 
leader, fell, according to the family 
tradition, by the hand of Roger Ky- 
naston ; which is not improbable ; for 
two years after the battle, when the 
earl of March ascended the throne, 
under the title of Edward IV., he 
not only knighted the Squire of 
Hordley, but also assigned to him 
the confiscated arms of the fallen 
Audley, as an honorary addition to 
his own, which are still borne in the 
first quarter of the Kynaston shield. 

The next engagement at which sir 
Roger was present was that of Danes- 
more, when the Herberts fell, as nar- 
rated in the notes to Dosp. I. 6. 

In two years after, on Easter day, 
April 1 4th, 1471, sir Roger was found 
at his post at Barnet. At this battle 
the earl of Oxford, a Lancastrian, 



370 



LEWIS GLYX COTHI. 



Maistr Rosser, rymus drysor, 
Cinast wych acw yn ystor. 
Llavv ei hun dros Wrtun yw, 
Llew 'r Mydl a'i holl rym ydy w ; 
Bliant Powys a'i hantur, 
Brig swydd Amwythig a'i mur ; 
Egin Grufydd y Cinast, 
Ag on way w dur y gwnai dast. 
Maistr Rosser, ar gwrser gwyn, 
Ni ad brad un hyd Brydyn ; 
Aeth golud drud, mal rhoi treth, 
O law Siob i Elisabeth ; 
Merch iarll, a Jlyma 'r ach wir, 
Tanc'rvild yn cau rhy veldir. 
Elisabedd vrenhinedd hyn, 
Eigr o Harri Grae hirwyn ; 



12 



16 



having beaten back the wing opposed 
to him, saw it necessary to wheel 
about to strengthen his former posi- 
tion. In doing this, his ensign being 
a blazing star darting forth rays was 
mistaken, by his own party, for the 
rising sun of king Edward. He was 
in consequence of this attacked by 
them, and chased off the field of 
battle. The mistake could not be 
rectified ; and the Lancastrian army 
was defeated with the loss of ten 
thousand men. 

The crest of the Kynaston Coat is 
supposed to have been assumed from 
this time, and in allusion to the above 
recited event, namely, an arm in ar- 
mour crossing the sun with a sword 
in hand proper. 

Motto. Deus est nobis sol et ensis. 

The arms taken up by Griffith 
Kynaston of Stokes were argent a 
chevron engrailed between three mul- 
lets sable. 

Sir Roger and his descendants, for 
several generations, were popular a- 
mong the bards of their respective 
periods. When sir Roger was deco- 
rated with the " coler wen" of knight- 
hood by Edward IV. a grand fete 
was held on the occasion at the castle 
of Knocking. At this fete a Cywydd 



was recited by Gutto'r Glyn, a copy 
of which is still in the possession of 
the family, accompanied with an ex- 
cellent English translation and notes 
by William Maurice, Ty Newydd o'r 
Gynllaith, Llan Silin, in 1 672. 

Sir Roger was knighted 9th Ed- 
ward IV ; was sheriff of Shropshire 
1st — 2nd, and 10th— 11th Edward 
IV. ; sheriff of Merionethshire, temp. 
Henry VII. Died 11th Henry VII. 

His son Humphrey, known to the 
Welsh on the boarders by the name 
" Kinast Wyllt," or the wild, was 
outlawed 6th Henry VII ; and par- 
doned 8th Henry VII ; and died in 
1534. 

We are possessed of several anec- 
dotes current about Humphrey ; but 
the limit allowed for notes will not 
allow us to introduce them here. 

5. Wrtun, Overton, on the Dee, in 
Maelor Saisneg. 

6. Mydl, Middle, a parish in Shrop- 
shire. 

9. Grufydd, &c. Sir Roger's fa- 
ther. 

14. Elisabeth, sir Roger's mother. 

16. Tanc'rvild, Henry Grey, earl 
of Tankerville, sir Roger's father-in- 
law. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 371 

Wyr y Dug, a vu wr da, 

O Glowsedr; myn bagl Assa I 20 

Elain Owain Cyveiliawg, 

Asur holl Bowys y rhawg ; 

Y wraig hono aV Cinast 

A ron* win a'u haur yn wast. 24 

Ynt hwy a rydd yn gytun 

rodd a archer iddyn\ 
Edward y sydd yn nodi 

Arch i 1 r rharn, a chyrcher hi ; 2S 

Un cawr Ddavydd ab Siancyn 
Arvau wrth warae a vyn. 
Rhan Rhosser rhodder y rhawg 

1 ryw bost oV Ebistawg; 32 

Y mae ystondart o\ mael 
Gaera wg, val gwe o urael ; 

Man yw 'r mael mewn aur melyn, 

Mwnai a gwlith mwnwgl ynn. 36 

Makjast dur unmab Urien, 

Mynwair am y min a'r en ; 

Barbed yw cyvled slt cawg, 

Bron gwalch yn wybren gylchawg; 40 

Traian bach ac arian byw, 

Gro 'r main o greiriau Mynyw ; 

Godre capan o'r gwydrin, 

Gwe drwy 'r haul o'r gwydr a'r hin. 44 

Cael ym o wlad penadur 

Corsied o waith ceiroes dur ; 

Gan ei vun y dymunwn 

Menyg o ia He main gwn ; 48 

Gwraig a yr, a gwr gorhof, 

Gandleis ym ac yn deils hof ; 

19. Wyr y Dug — o Glowsedr, Eli- breast, and crupper. Crabb. 
zabeth was " a granddaughter of the 43. capan, a cover for the head ; 

duke of Glocester." . helmet; salad. 

37- Mak fast= make fast. 46. Corsied, gorget; a neck-piece 

38. mynwair, a coller. of plate. Ceiroes — ceirios, cherries. 

39. Barbed— Barbe, the armour of 50. Gandleis = gauntlets. 

the horses of the ancient knights and yn deils hof, i. e. layer upon layer, 

soldiers, which covered the neck, 



372 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Dau amrant wedi ymrwym, 

Dymau rhodd o'r dur yn rhwym ; 52 

Dreigiau 'n chwarterau o'r tan, 

Dyrnvolau 'r drin o velan ; 

Cloau dwylaw rhag cael dolur, 

Creigiau yn dwyn cregin dur ; 56 

Dwyddarn wydr, deuddwrn ydynt, 

Delwau o ia, dwylaw ynt. 

Ba le mae 'r gorsied gaead ? 

Mae 'n gwpl wrth y raenyg plad. 60 

OV Mydl, yn rhwym, i Ed wart 

Draw y don" i dori dart ; 

Dwyrodd wrth yr un dariart, 

A dau a'i rhydd yn dair rhan ; 64 

V'arglwyddes, veistres yn v'oes, 

Maistr Rosser vy meistr eisoes ; 

Am rodd Cymmro a wyddwn, 

Oed dar i'r arglwydd, ddaed hwn ; 68 

Am yr ail, gymmhar Olwen, 

Oes Seth i'r arglwyddes wen. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 



II. 



I OVYN BWA YR AIL WAITH I DAVYDD AB GRUFYDD 
AB 1EUAN VYCHAN, O ABER TANAD. 



The bard in this poem thanks David Llwyd for having on a former occa- 
sion presented him with a bow and arrow ; but which being stolen away 
from him, he now begs to have another, lamenting at the same time the loss 
of the former one. 



Yr ysgwier colerawg, 

Ac a wna rhoi gwin y rhawg ; 

Davydd Llwyd ev a ddaw llu 

Yn d'61 heb anwadalu ; 4 

Mab Grufy&d, dan arabedd, 

Ab leuan Vychan rhoes vedd. 

II. Addressed to David Llwyd ab Griffith ab leuan Vychan, of Aber 
Tanad, Montgomeryshire. 

Einion Evell, or the twin, son of Madog ab Maredydd, (ab Bleddyn ab 
Cynvyn), prince of Powys. Einion lived at Llwyn y Maen, 
in the parish of Oswestry. He had Cynllaith, after his father, 
which is a lordship in the parish of Llansilin, Montgomeryshire. 

Rhun 

I 

Cuhelyn, of Lloran Ucha', Llansilin. 

Madog Goch, of Lloran Ucha'. 

Madog, surnamed Kyfin, from Kyfin, a township in the parish of Llan 

IGadvan, Montgomeryshire, where he had been nursed. He lived 
at Arth Eryr, in Mochnant uwch Rhaiadr. 
leuan Gethin, of Voelyrch. 

leuan Vychan 

Grufydd =• Gwervyl's second husband. Gwervyl was the daughter of Madog 

Iab Maredydd ab Llywelyn Ddu, of the race of Tudur 
Trevor or Tudur of the Tribe of the Marches (of Eng- 
Davydd Llwyd land and Wales). Her first husband was Rhys ab 
Davydd ab Hywel, of Rug, in Edeyrnion, the 6th in 
descent from Owain Brogyntyn, another son of Madog 
ab Maredydd, prince of Powys. See her Elegy (Dosp. 
V. 4.). 

3 — 6. Davydd Llwyd — dan arab- be full of merriment when dispensing 
edd — rhoes vedd, "David Lloyd would his mead." 



374 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Yr hwn a geisio da 'n rhad, 

Aed hwnw i Aber Tanad ; 

Prydydd i Davydd, ni'm dawr, 

Ydwyv, Velwas dwy Vaelawr ! 

Bwa, y mab o Bowys ! 

I mi a roist ar vy mrys; 12 

Ac ev, peth nid oedd gyviawn, 

Lleidr a'i dyg yn lledrad iawn ; 

Bwa arall, y Barwn ! 

Sy genyd un hyd a hwn ; 

Mae vo val na alio neb 

Ei dynu hyd ei wyneb ; 

Minnau a'i tyn, myn Ieuan ! 

Heblaw 'r glust yn biler glan. 20 

Digri 1 vydd i'm a divalch, 

Gyda pherchen bwa balch, 

Annelu 'r un wyalen ; 

A saethu iwrch a saeth wen. 24 

Llinyn arno vo yn van 

A osodav o sidan ; 

Deugorn, wedi eu bendigo^ 

Arian vydd arno evo. 28 

Gwisgaw braichledr, os medrav, 

O arian neu aur a wnav ; 

Dangos, wrth yved osai, 

Y bwa rhodd i bob rhai ; 32 
Bwa 'r hin, heb un llinyn, 

Y sydd bedwar devnydd dyn ; 

Y mae ar vy mwa i 

Ei liw iawn a'i oleuni ; 36 

Lliw 'r tan, ar hyd ei ganol, 
^ Lliw 'r 6d yn well ar ei ol ; 



8. Aber Tanad, the fall of the he makes to consist of four colours 

Tanad into the Vyrnwy (Evyrnwy), answering to those of (pedwar devn- 

near Oswestry. The name of David ydd dyn, viz.) fire (red, or saffron) ; 

Lloyd's residence. air (yellow, or the colour of the sky 

%&.Bwa l rhin, "the rainbow." The at sunset) ; earth (green) ; and water 

bard here compares the colours of his (violet, or blue). The above are the 

bow to those of the rainbow, which four primary colours of the rainbow. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 375 

tLlinyn gwaith dyn, o'r dinas, 
Ar y waell glau o'r lliw glas ; 40 

Ei ddau ben, oedd o Binus, 
A dry a lliw dwy o 1 r Uus ; 
Nai ab brawd yw hwn y pren 
A vuasai 'n Haw Voesen ; 44 

Y mae ev, wrth ymavael, 
Yn dri ac un wedi *r gael ; 

Y saeth a'r Uinyn y sydd, 

E droed y bwa 'n drydydd : 48 

Tebyg i'r groes Vendigaid 

Yw vy yw rhudd pan vo rhaid ; 

Croes vu i bumoes, lie bo, 

A yr adwyth i rodio ; 52 

Gym saeth a wna'r groes hon, 

Er gado llawn ergydion; 

Gyrav ddatgeiniad, Davydd ! 

A mydr hwnt am dy yw rhudd ; 56 

Minnau a ddov lie mynych, 

Mab wyd, a gwr mab da gwych ; 

Mab Cadvan Aber Tanad, 

Mab doeth doeth, mab wyd i'th dad ; 60 

Mab gwrda I rhoist vwa 'n vau, 

Moes weithian i'm y saethau. 

42. lliw dwy o'r Uus, " the colour the son of Eneas Lydewig of Armo- 

of bilberries ;" violet or blue colour. rica, to whom several churches in 

57. Mab Cadvan, a complimentary Wales are dedicated. He was consi- 

epithet to David Llwyd. Cadvan was dered the tutelar saint of warriors. 



376 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



III. 



CYWYDD O OVYN CLEDDYV I DAVYDD AB GUTYN 

O GROESOSWALLT I LADD GWYR 

CAERLLEON GAWR. 



This poem was written to request, as a gift to the bard, a favourite rapier 
from David ab Gutyn. The bard declares his object in using the rapier 
when he becomes possessed of it, namely, that it should be the instrument of 
teaching better manners to the men of Chester, who had robbed him of his 
property, a short time previously, for having married the widow of a citizen 
without the leave of the city magistrates, in conformity with a by law of 
theirs, which enacted that no citizen's widow should marry a Welshman. 



Y Hew oedd eurlliw ei walk, 

Sy iso i Groes Oswallt. 

Gater Davydd ab Gutyn 

I vyw oni el ev yn wyn. 4 

Arthur yw wrth roi ei win, 

Ac Uthur o leuan Gethin. 

Un edn Cuhelyn ydyw, 

A phen aig o Gyfin yw. 8 

Ivor Hael uwch gwlad Maelawr, 

Evrog o Gyveiliog vawr. 

Bid vlaenor, dan y goron, 

Bowys ; wyr Davydd ab Sion ! 12 

III. Addressed to David ab Gu- grandson to leuan Gethin. 
tyn or Griffith, of Oswestry, asking Gater = gadawer. 

of him a sword with which he might 7- Un edn Cuhelyn, " a descendant 

slay the men of Chester. of Cuhelyn." See Pedigree (Dosp. 

2. Croes Owallt, Oswestry. Os- V. 2). Cuhelyn rebuilt, in 1230, the 
wald, or Oswallt, the Saxon king, mansion-house of Lloran Ucha', in 
was slain in battle by Penda, the the parish of Llansilin. This man- 
Mercian, at Merserfield near Oswes- sion has been greatly celebrated by 
try. Owestry or, hi Welsh, Croes the poets. See Cambro-Briton, vol. i. 
Owallt, takes its name from him. pp. 343, 344. 

There was also a saint Oswald, 10. Evrog =~Evrog Gadarn, son of 

who was bishop of Worcester and Mymbyr, the sixth king of Britain ; 

archbishop of Canterbury. Festival, from whom it is said in the British 

29th February. Chronicles, we have the name of Caer 

3. Gater Davydd ab Gutyn, David Evrog for the city of York. Here 
ab Griffith, was brother to David a complimentary epithet. 

Lloyd, of the last poem ; and great 



Y D0SPARTH V. 377 

IV deidiau 'dd oedd rym deudir, 

Mechain ynt hwy Mochnant hir. 

Yr un wyr a geidw er neb 

Dir Arwndel drwyV undeb. 16 

Hyd Ddovr val haid i Ddavydd, 

Golud Siob a'i glod y sydd. 

I'r wlad y mae 'n varchnad vawr, 

I dre Oswallt mae 'n drysawr. 20 

Mae 'n haelach haiach ei hun. 

No deuddeg o'r da iddyn\ 

Ni chai Duw arian anhael, 

Nid rhaid ond amnaid ar hael. 24 

Arch i Ddavydd a archav, 

Arch ! cyn ei herchi y cav 

Nid aur oedd, neu dir iddaw ; 

Ond cleddau o d'arvau daw. 28 

Y mae 'n ei gylch, er mwyn ei gil, 
Dwrn byr mor durn a baril ; 

Y mae pais oV garnais gwyn, 

A chramp mal cylch ar impyn ; 32 

Mae gwregys forchog gogam, 
A chrys o goed a chroes gam ; 
Wrth y groes, wedi 'r weithiaw, 

Y mae yn lied i'm-no Haw ; 36 
Mae blaen arno vo yn vain 

Val nodwydd neu vlaen adain ; 

Blaen yw val divlaen y dart, 

Dur awchus yw o drichwart ; 40 

Croes wen rhag rhyw was annoeth, 

Croes naid, o'i uncrys yn noeth ; 



16. Dir Arwndel, "Arundel's ter- 39. Blaen yw, &c. " the point of 

ritory;" or the manor of Oswestry, the keen rapier is like the finest point 

which was in the possession of the of a dart ; and the length of the hlade 

earls of Arundel. is two feet and three inches." 

17- Hyd Ddovr, " as far as Dover." Divlaen, a point ending in nothing ; 

In these two couplets is an allusion a point so fine as to be scarcely per- 

to David's popularity and wealth. It ceptible to the naked eye. 

is not improbable but that he may 40. trichwart = trichwarter Hath, or 

have been at the time a constable of three-fourths of a yard. 

Oswestry castle. 41. Croes wen (a blessed cross) 

36. yn lled—yn Uetach. and, in next line, Croes naid, are 

2c 



378 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Llain las wrth ddarllen ei liw. 



Lien wydr val ellyn ydy w ; 44 

Goleu yw hwn val bagl hir, 

A gloew ydy w val glodir ; 

Lleiddiad val cyllell Iuddew, 

A thra llym val ysgythr Hew. 46 

Hwn a archav i Ddavydd : 

Os yr arch iso a rydd 

Eilliaw a wnav, myn Haw Non ! 

Ei holl ieuainc Caerlleon. 50 

Ar bob taiog yr hogav 

Asen ddur os yno 7 dd av. 

Ni ddaw un, hyd wyl Ddwynwen, 

dre boeth heb ddri ei ben. 54 

Anavav, od av lie don", 

Ugain mil o gwn modioli. 

Y dydd, yn ol diawd win, 

Y cafwyv gleddau 'r Cyfin ; 58 
Dolur a wnav a'm dwylaw 

Ar y drev anghywir draw. 

Bid rho'v ddydd, yn nhrevydd Rhos ; 

A Chaer winau ddechreunos. 62 

Bid arnav, od av Pr dydd, 

Ladd dwyvil a chledd Davydd. 



epithets applied to the rapier, signi- niog, parts of Denbighshire. See an 

ficative of its protecting power against account of scuffles between the men 

the foe. of Chester and Reinalt oV Tivr, &c. 

61. yn nhrevydd Rhos, "in the in Pennant's Tour in Wales. 



towns of Rhos." Rhos and Rhyvo- 



Y DOSPARTH V. 



379 



IV. 



MARWNAD GWERVYL VERCH MADOG, O ABERTANAD, 
YN MLODWOL. 



The bard describes the general lamentation that existed, not only among 
the minstrels, but also throughout the country at large, in consequence of 
Gwervyl's death. Such, in his opinion, was the excellency of her character, 
that she was deserving of being canonized, and of pilgrimages being made to 
her grave. 



Nid bardd a chwardd na cherddawr, 
Pwy nid mab iV penyd mawr ? 



IV. An elegy on Gwervyl the 
daughter of Madog, of Aber Tanad, 
in Blodwel. See Pedigree (Dosp. V. 
2.). The bards and genealogists gave 
her the title of Gwervyl hael, or the 
generous ; and her son, of the last 
marriage, Davydd Llwyd of Aber 
Tanad, was a favourite with the 
bards and minstrels of his time. 

Guttd'r Glyn says in one of his 
poems, addressed to this hospitable 
host of Aber Tanad, — 

" A' ddyw Sulj ddewis aelwyd, 
Av ddyw Llun at Davydd Llwyd !" 

Both Gwervyl and her son Davydd 
Llwyd, were interred in the family 
vault in the church of Llanymlodwol, 
now within the county of Salop. 
Gwervyl hael's first husband was 
Rhys ab Davydd ab Hywel. See 
Pedigree (Dosp. V. 13.). They had 
two sons, Hywel and Grufydd. Hy- 
wel had a son called levan ab Rhys, 
who was married to Gwenwyvar, 
daughter and heiress to Eliseu ab 
Grufydd ab Einion of Rug ; and they 
had a daughter of the name of Mar- 
garet who became possessed of the 
Rug property. This Margaret mar- 
ried Pierce Salisbury of Bachymbryd, 
son of John, son of Thomas Salis- 
bury hen of Lleweni, whereby the 
Salisburys became possessed of Rug. 
In this family it continued until it 
was coveyed to Rowland Pughe, esq. 
M. D., of Mathavarn, in the county 



of Montgomery, who married Mary, 
daughter and heiress of Roger Salis- 
bury, esq. Their daughter and heiress, 
Maria-Charlotte, married Thomas 
Pryse, of Gogerddan, esq. M. P., for 
the Cardigan boroughs. Their only 
son John Pugh Pryse, esq., M. P., 
died, (aged 30 years,) unmarried, 
about the year 1768. The Gogerddan 
estate went to the heir at law, Lewis 
Pryse, esq. of Woodstock. The mo- 
ther surviving her son (J. P. Pryse) 
was again sole heiress of Mathavarn 
and Rug. She sold Mathavarn to the 
trustees of the late sir Watkin Wil- 
liams Wynn, bart., then a minor ; 
and Rug, and its dependencies, she 
devised by will to Col. Salisbury of 
the Guards ; and he dying unmar- 
ried, in Sicily, during the late conti- 
nental war, bequeathed the whole to 
his younger brother Grufydd Howel 
Vaughan, esq., the present hospitable 
proprietor. 

Gwervyl hael's descendants, by 
her second husband, were the Tanats 
of Aber Tanat. The Godolphins came 
into possession by marriage; and a 
lord Goxlolphin devised the whole 
estate to lord Osborne, in which fa- 
mily it still continues. To this branch 
of the descendants of Gwervyl hael 
may be added Mrs. Ormsby Gore cf 
Porkington, near Oswestry. 

2. Pwy nid, &c. "who is not the 
son of sorrow ?" 

9 r 9, 



380 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Mwy a gar, rhag rhoi arian, 

Gair o gerdd no 'r gwr a gan. 4 

Gwae a wnel ganu i wr, 

Gwae a urddwyd yn gerddwr. 

Planed Madog Amhredydd 

A roed yn nghdr Duw yn nghudd. 8 

Mae o wylaw yn Maelawr 

Mwy no llyn ar Verwyn vawr ; 

A chwyn uchod yn Mlodwol, 

Ac yn Rug gwyn ar ei hoi. 12 

Marwnad Gwervyl verch Madawg 

A wna 'r haul yn winau rhawg, 

A chwyn yn Ngwynedd heddyw 

A wna y Uoer wen o'i lliw. 16 

Dau gwyn yn y byd a gad 

Yn un cwyn o naw caniad ; 

Cwyn rhiain vain a oedd vul, 

Cwyn mawr yw'r can am Weuryl, 20 

Ni a awn am hon i Wynedd 

I brydu val y brawd vedd. 

Ychain gwar Brycheiniawg ym, 

Neu adar llwch gwin ydym ; 24 

Gwnaetham gwyn yn dwyn y du, 

Do, Weuryl ! o'i daiaru ; 

Beunydd v}^ nhyb i weinion 

Y gwnai wyrth Padrig a Non. 28 

Ar ben bedd Dwynwen pob dyn 

A gai iechyd wrth gy chwyn ; 

Ar y bedd rhinwedd a rhad 

A bair Dwynwen bro Danad. 32 

Rhinwedd, val gwledd Gelyddon, 

A vydd i hael ar vedd hon ; 

Gwin yn rhad, ac enrhydedd, 

A gai "r beirdd ar gwr ei bedd ; 36 

12. Rug, near Corwen, the seat of ture. 

G. Howel Vaughan, esq. 28. Padrig, saint Patrick. See 

23. Ychain = ychain banog. Camb. Biog. 

24. adar llwch gwin, some mytho- 32. Dwynwen bro Danad, " Gwer- 
logical birds. Dr. W. O. Pughe sup- vyl the Dwynwen of the valley of 
posed them to be vultures ; but there Tanad." 

is no good foundation for the conjee- 



Y D0SPARTH V. 381 

Ofrymen'' ddalen, bob ddau, 
Neu ddeg, iddi 'n gywyddau. 

Tair santes oedd i Iesu 

A rhan i Vair o'r rhai'n vu ; 40 

Gwenvul o ymyl Gwynva, 

Urvul ddoeth a Gwervyl dda. 

Rhol wen a ysgrivenav 

O riv saint ar vis o hav ; 44 

Ac yn ol naw ugain es 

Enw Gweuryl vy un gares. 

Pan vu yn Abertanad, 

Er DuWj yn rhoi 'r da yn rhad ; 48 

Ni bu o Gymmru wraig well 

A'i hewyllys hi wellwell ; 

AthraweSj rh'om a Throia, 

Oedd a dysg i'r gwragedd da. 52 

Anaml wedi ei eni, 

Ar ei hoi o'i chyvryw hi. 

Och Dduw ! ddwyn y verch ddwywol 

A'n bod ni 'n y byd yn ol. 56 

Nid wyv vyw gan ddystryw 'n ddwys, 

Nad by w Enid o Bowys ; 

Aeth Blodwol ar ei hoi hi 

Heb haul wen, heb haelioni ; 60 

Aeth Mihangel, ar elor, 

A'r wraig hael i euraw'r cor ; 

Ar ail awr yr aeth i'r wledd, 

A Gweuryl i'r drugaredd. 64 

41. Gwenvul, a female saint, whose tures respecting her in the Cambrian 
history is not known. Register, vol. ii. pp. 371, 372. 

42. Urvul = Urddvu\ = Urvul Sant- 45. Es =■ S = sant-es =a female 
es, the patron saint of Llanervul, in saint, naw ugain es, " and to the 
Montgomeryshire, whose feast or nine times twenty female saints 
wake falls on the Sunday next fol- which I could recount, I would add 
lowing the 6th of July. See conjee- Gwervyl." 



2c3 



382 LEWIS GLYN COT HI. 



I VAREDYDD AB HYWEL AB MORUS, AC I DREV 
CROES OSWALLT. 



The first portion of this poem is in praise of the town of Oswestry and its 
inhabitants ; and its church. After that Meredith ab Howel is represented as 
being the principal person in the place, and as having, in his military capa- 
city, the guardianship of the town intrusted to him. Then follows a brief 
outline of Meredith's pedigree, his character, and popularity as a soldier and 
patron of the minstrels. 

Y drev nis rhov, bedair oes, 
Ar y dis, neu gard eisoes ; 

V. Addressed to Meredith ab nine miles west by south from Os- 

Howel ab Moms, complimenting him westry. He had another mansion at 

and the town of Oswestry. Glasgoed in Cynllaith. Sir Watkin 

He held some chief office (see line Williams Wynn, bart., is his lineal 

15) in the corporation of Oswestry, descendant. 

either that of a constable of the The pedigree, as under, is collected 

castle, or mayor, or recorder. He from names and terms used by the 

had a mansion at Llys Mechain, a bard in the poem. Arms : argent, a 

township, still bearing the name, in chevron sable between three spears 

the parish of Llan Armon yn Me- head proper, 
chain, now called LlanVechain, about 

Gwaithvoed Vawr o Bowvs. 



Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, prince of Powys. 



Einion Evell, of Llwyn y Maen, near Oswestry. 



leuan Gethin, of Garth Eryr, in Mochnant 



Ieuan Vychan — Morus ab leuan Gethin = 

of AberTanad I 3rd son. 



Grufydd ab leuan - Gwervyl hael. 

] Dosp. V. 4. Hywel ab Morus = Margaret, da. 

j i and con. of 

Davydd Llwyd. Davydd ab Gutvn Davydd ab 

Dosp. V. 2. Dosp. V. 3. Giwn Llwyd 

j of Hendwr. 
Dumasine=MAREDYDD ab Hywel. 
da. of Richard Ireland son of Roger 
son of sir John Ireland, knight. 



Humphrey Kynaston —Elizabeth 
the Wild. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 383 

Ni rov ar dabler o'v allt, 

Nag ar sies hen Groes Oswallt. 4 

Gorau undrev ei gwerin, 

Gorau un gaer gron ei gwin ; 

Ai cystal amgylch castell, 

Neil a gaid bwrdeisiaid gwell ? 8 

Ynddi mae Marsiandai 'r Sieb, 

A chordiad a chywirdeb ; 

Eglwys yn grwys dan gwr allt, 

Eglwyswyr yn galw Oswallt; 12 

Ni vyn anneddvod a vu, 

Nac amraint ; Llundain Cymmru ! 

IV gaer vaen y mae 'n vkienawr, 

Y dewrav oil o'r drev vawr ; 1 6' 

Macsen i'r gaer wen ar wal, 

Maredydd gymmhar Idwal ; 

Hector Hywel ab Morus, 

Yniawl iarll o Vechain lys ; 20 

vlaenion cyfion y caid^ 
Cyf Einion, a'r cyfiniaid ; 
Dar hir o'r Hendwr yw hwn, 

Draig ieuanc odu'r Gi'wi^; 24 

1 enw Rhydderch mae'n berchen, 
A thavod doeth Gwaithvoed hen ; 
Yn y mryd enw Maredydd, 

Yn y lie hwn yw enw Lludd. 28 

Llundain o dderw ugain allt, 

Wttreswyr yw tre Oswallt ; 

Bell a wnaeth Gaerllion, 

Ab Dyvnwal, val ynys Von ; 32 

Ac yno 'r oedd bob gan'-wr, 

O vilwyr gynt, vil i'r gwr. 



2. dts=a, dice. gives JMeredith's pedigree as descend- 
gard=za card. ing from Madog Cyifin, Einion E- 

3. dabler = Tawlbwrdd, a draught- veil, &c. 

board. 24. G'iw7i—Giwn Lhvyd of Hen- 

4. sies=& chessboard. dwr, in Edeyrnion, Meirionethshire. 
17- Macsen, — Hector, — Yniawl, 31. Belt ab Dyvnwal, brother to 

complimentary epithets applied to Bran, with whom it is said he reign- 
Meredith, ed jointly, as the 22nd king of Bri- 



20. Vechain /«/s=Llys Vechain. tain. 

22. Cyf Einion, &c. the bard here 



4 



384 



LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 



Mab Hywel, a'r meirch gwelwon, 

YwV ail hael o'r gaer welw hon ; 

A'i braich val y bu erioed, 

A blaenawr ei phobl unoed ; 

Hydd yw Maredydd ar wyr, 

Aeth yn wr; weithion eryr. 

Y gleisiad, ddyw-Gwyl Oswallt, 

Ydyw yr hydd, oV dwr hallt ; 

Ev yw 'r blaenor rhagorol, 

Ei wyr yw aig ar ei ol ; 

Gwyr meiniorij gvvyr gwychion gwar, 

Gwyr mawr, a gweywyr marwar; 

Saledau is haul lydan, 

Swrn teg o isarnau tan 

Blesawnt wrth bawl o asur, 

Bwaau Haw da ; bwyeill dur. 

Gradd iw gylch o'r gwyr oedd gall, 

O gerddorion gradd arall. 

Hwn val hen Vaelgwyn a vu, 

Hyn a'i dilyn o deulu ; 

Ev a eilw ar ei vilwyr, 

Ev a dry i'r gwindy aV gwyr ; 

Ev a dal dros a yvynt, 

Ev a ry gilt Ivor gynt ; 

Maen gwerthvawr mawr hyd y Main, 

A much add yw yn Mechain ; 

Un dwrn blaenau Edeyrniawn, 

Un cleddau 'r Deau, a'i dawn ; 

Tyned ar ol Maredydd 

Tyrva y wlad, val trev Ludd ; 

Teyrn y drev yw evo, 

Try stan ar draian Caer dro ; 

Tri oed rhoed Duw ar ei wallt, 

Tair oes i garw tir Oswallt. 



36 



40 



52 



6o 



64 



68 



59. hyd y Main, a township in 
Meivod not far from Llys Vechain in 
Llan Vechain, where the mansion of 
Meredith was. 

04. trev Ludd, " the town of Lud- 
low." 

66. Try stan, sir Tristram. See 
Camb. Biog. 



39. hydd, — eryr, — gleisiad, compli- 
mentary epithets applied to Meredith. 

44. aig ar ei ol ; sev, ar ol y glei- 
siad. 

48. isarnau, pi. of isarn, poleaxe : 
falx; longa securis. Dr. Davies. 

Isen,isem, iren, (Ker, isar, isarn,): 
iron. Bosworth's Anglo-Saxon Diet. 



Y DOSPARTH V, 



385 



VI. 



AWDL DDYCHAN GWYR CAERLLEON AR DDYVRDWY. 



This ode, addressed to Reinallt of the Tower, abounds with the most in- 
vective language possible directed against the entire inhabitants of Chester. 
The bard calls loudly for vengeance to fall upon them as a retribution for 
their cruel conduct in taking away from him all his houshold furniture, and 
insisting upon his quitting the city ; and that, as already mentioned (Dosp. 
V. 3.), because he had, without previously obtaining leave from the magis- 
trates, married a citizen's widow. " He summons," says Pennant, " the 
ministry of angels and of devils to his assistance ; and pours a profusion of 
curses on Caerlleon and its people. He wishes water to drown, fire to burn, 
and air to infect the hated place ; and that grass may grow in every part, 
except the sacred edifices, of this habitation of the seven deadly sins." Pen- 
nant's Tour in North Wales, vol. ii. p. 400. 

The bard, it appears, did not petition Reinallt in vain for assistance to re- 
venge the injury done unto him ; for Yorke (in his " Royal Tribes of Wales") 
says, that " Reinallt, being ripe for the enterprise, collected his people, went 
to Chester, and put the citizens, as many as fell into his hands, to the sword." 

There is among the Porkington MSS. an imperfect poem extant, beginning 
thus : " Wyr Einion a'i fon fynied y Saison," in which the bard thanks 
Reinallt for his services. 



I Reinallt raae cledd ar groenyn yn graf 
Ab Grufydd ab Bleddyn; 



VI. A satire, addressed to Reinallt 
ab Grufydd ab Bleddyn, of Tower 
near Mold, inveighing against the 
inhabitants of Chester. 

Reinallt was a Lancastrian; and, 
according to Yorke, one of the six 
gallant captains who defended Har- 



lech castle, in 1468, against Ed- 
ward IV. In two pedigrees at Nan- 
nau, however, it is recorded that he 
died, in 1466, at Llanddervel, near 
Bala, before the surrender of Harlech 
by David ab Ieuan ab Einion. The 
following is his pedigree : 



Bleddyn ab Cynvyn 
Maredydd 

Madog 

I 
Cynvrig Evell 



Llywelyn 
Grono 

Meilir 

I 
Einion 



Cynvrig 

Grono 

.1 
Einion 

I 
Grono 



I 
Davydd 

Bleddyn 

Grufydd 



Sion, 
ancestor of the Wynns, of Twr Moel. 



Reinallt. 



386 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Rhag hwnvv yn euro cannyn 

Y Gaer grach a'i gwyr a gryn. 4 

Crynodd Caerlleon rhag Reinallt, a'i gwyr 

Hyd ar gwr y Velallt ; 

Crynen wrth foi i'r Wenallt, 

Crynu i gyd eu crwyn a^u gwallt. 8 

Eu crwyn a'u hesgyrn crinion a'u garau, 

A dyr gorwyr Einion ; 

Yn mhob mangre 'n Nghaerlleon, 

Evo a ladd vil a'i on. 12 

A'i on, wyr Einion, ar ais i daiog 

Y dial dwyn vy mhais ; 
Dwyn o hwn, drygwn ei drais, 

Dan ei vawd dwyn a vudais. \6 

Dywllun y mudais o'm delli i Gaer, 

Gwell oedd i'm vy nghrogi ; 

I ddeu-ddiawl dduwiau iddi 

Adu mwy o'r da i mi. 20 

Ynddi wedi i mi 'n mhob modd 

Roi vy na "n nghwr vy neuadd, 

Genyv nid oedd ar gynnydd 

Dranoeth ond yr ewinedd. 24 

01 ewin Reinallt, 61 ei weywyr tan, 

Yn mhenau tai y bradwyr ; 

01 ei ddwrn a laddai wyr 

Ar ei chwr hi, a'i chaerwyr. 28 

Archav i drev Gaer, a'i Maer, a'i inach, 

Oerchwedl i'r dinas mewn dwr bas bach ; 

I weydd, i grydd, i grach, eu herddyrn ; 

A'u hesgyrn cedyrn yn mhob cadach. 32 

7. y Velallt) Beeston in Cheshire. 29. dwr bas bach, " may there be 

10. gorwyr ■, as well as u-yr, is not no water in the Dee sufficient to float 

here, as also in other places, to be their craft." 

taken in its literal signification ; but 31. herddyrn ^erddyrn, pi. of ar- 

as a term of general acceptation, sig- ddwrn. 

nifying a descendant. 



Y DOSFARTH V. 387 

I ieuainc, i hen, nid amgenach ; 

I Gaerlleon Gawr, i vawr, i vach ; 

I wraig, i vorwyn, i wrach, i siopwr; 

I wr, i glerwr, ac i gleiriach. 36 

O mynasant vy na raewn naw-sach, 

Naw ugain myntai o gwn mantach ; 

Mynwn pe'u gwelwn hwy 'n gulach o dda, 

Yn moel y Wyddva yn ymleddvach. 40 

Y dwr a'u boddo tra vo trev iach, 

Y tan a" ii llosgo peten' llesgach ; 

Yr awel a'u gwnel gan' niwlach gwinau, 

Ond yr eglwysau, yn dir glasach. 44 

liar a'u lladdo a Chyvelach, 

Y cwn a'u hyso acw yn hawsach ; 

Y Brenin nevawl, a Brynach, a Non, 

A'u gwna hwy 'n ddeillion ac yn ddallach. 48 

Ni bu Vaer yn Nghaer anghywirach, 

Ni bu sersiant waeth na neb gaethach ; 

Ni bu haid, ddiawliaid ! ddelach eu gwahodd 

Ni bu ieir un vodd, na brain veddwach. 52 

Na gwragedd Llundain garnbuteiniach, 

Na gwyr un vloneg garn vileiniach, 

Na meibion gweinion gwanach yn eu cred, 

Na merched ar lied anlladach. 56 

Na llyfaint un vraint, na moch vryntach ; 

Na chwain un livrai, na chwn ly vrach ; 

Na phlasau eynnrwg, na falsach dynion ; 

Na thir vwy ladron na threv leidrach. 0<) 

Ni aned carliaid annhirionach, 

Ni vveled gwragedd annuwiolach, 

Na rhai can vrynted o wyr, haiach Cred ; 

Na rhai can foled o wythved acb. 64 

45. Cyvelach, the patron saint of shire, and another in Glamorgan - 

Llan Gyvelach, Glamorganshire. shire; and, according to Fen ton, 

47. Brynach, a saint to whom there Llan Vernach in Pembrokeshire is 

is a church dedicated in Brecknock- dedicated to the same saint. 



388 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Pob merch a orwedd wrth ei chyveddach, 

Pob morwyn gwr mwyn a gar Mynach, 

Pob gwraig Bwrdais Sais, * * *; 

Pob brawd moel * * a gyrch ciivach. 68 

Pob drewi a lyv Wiliam Briach, 

Pob drewiant a gant yn ymgeintiach ; 

Pob lliwydd a vydd wrth vach o bren ir, 

Pob un a vaeddir, pawb yn veddwach. 72 

Trev yw Caerlleon mewn tir aviach, 

Trev gwehilyth ! byth hwyr y bo iach ; 

Trev ddig Wyddelig veddalach no'i phwys, 

Trev ddwys yn cynnwys gwerin coniach. 76 

Trev y saith becbod heb neb dlodach, 

Trev gaerawg vylchawg heb neb valchach, 

Trev Sieb glothineb a glythynach bryd, 

Trev lie cyvyd 11yd a phob lledach. 80 

Llawer cell yn hon ddifaith bellach, 

Llawer fau ellyll llawer fallach, 

Llawer cyw wyth-ryw cyvathrach dan lwyn, 

Llawer twyn o vrwyn a chyvrinach. 84 

Llawer mab dan gist a vydd dristach, 
Llawer bron gwiddon a vydd gweddwach, 
Llawer gwraig Maeler gwammalach wrth gar, 
Llawer cymmhar war anniweiriach. 88 

Anniweirion blant anwiredd a wnant, 

Yn wyr ac yn wragedd ; 

Am a wnaethan' a'm hannedd 

Cant hwythau glwyvau gan gledd. 92 



Y DOSPARTH V. 389 

VII. 

I SAISON FLINT. 



The bard goes to the town of Flint, on a Sunday, to be present at a wed- 
ding feast, which, according to custom, was held on that sacred day. When 
he arrived at the destined place, the bridegroom and others of the company, 
to his great astonishment and chagrin, rudely interrupted him as he was re- 
citing an epithalamium ode prepared for the occasion. But this was not all ; 
for he had the mortification to find that the company preferred a tune on 
the bagpipe to the recital of his poetry. Accordingly, there was a great 
outcry made for the appearance of William Bibydd, the bagpipe player; who, 
on his coming forward, was loudly cheered. The bard's vivid description of 
William making his way, or rather hobbling along, towards the platform, 
with his stick in one hand, and pressing his bagpipe to his bosom with the 
other, is excellent ; and not less so is his description of the bagpipe and of 
William's playing, which was accompanied, on the part of William, with 
many and whimsical gesticulations. 



Daethym ddywsul diwethav 

(Dyn wyv a luniodd Duw Nav) 

I dre ddwbl, gaer gwbl-gwyrgam, 

Y Flint, a welwyv yn flam ; 4 

Lie *r oedd neithiawr (heb vawr vedd) 

Sais aneglur, Seisnigwledd. 

Ar oddeu cael yr oeddwn 

Herwydd creft hoewrodd crwn ; 8 

Dechreuais, frystais yn fraeth, 

Ganu awdl i'r genedlaeth ; — 

Gwatwaru, llysu vy llais ; 

Govid yno a gevais. 12 



Hawdd gan borthmyn haidd ac yd 
Vaddau vy holl gelvyddyd ; 
Ac am vy ngherdd y chwerddyn', 
Parod gan hawl, prid geny" hyn. 



)6 



VII. A satire on the town of Flint. 



390 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Sdn am bys Wiliam Beisir, 

Son oV ail am dail iV dir ; 

Galw i'r vainc, gwaelwr a vydd, 

O bawb am Wiliam Bibydd ; 20 

Dyvod o hwn, devawd hawl, 

Ger bron, nid val gwr breiniawl, 

A chod leddv, val perveddvaich, 

Wrth fon ! rhwng ei vron a'i vraich. 24 

Hyllu, syn dynu, swn dwg ; 

Rhwth gaul, a rhythu golwg ; 

A throi ei gorf yma a thraw, 

A chwyddo'r ddwyvoch eiddaw ; 28 

Chwerw voes ! chware a i vysedd 

A chroen glwth i chwerwon gwledd: 

Yn mysg rhvvtian, ^ysg rhawter, 

Tynu ei glog val tin y gler ; 32 

Froeniaw bu ; frwynaw a'i ben 

Ydd ydoedd at ei ddiden. 

Ail sud i varcud yw vo, 

Abl awydd i bluo ; 36 

Chwythu o'r crane, chwith yw'r cri, 

Chwyddo \ god a chrochweiddi ; 

Gwaedd hunlle 'n lladd gwydd henllom, 

Gwaedd gast drist greg, dan gist grom. 40 

Gerwingest i grio ungerdd, 

Gwythi ceg yn gwthiaw cerdd. 

Llais garan yn llaes gery, 

Gwydd o vrat yn gwaeddi vry ; 44 

Gavr yw un llais gyvran Hog, 

Glwyvus aviachus veichiog. 

Gwedi darvod, gvvawd oerverch, 

Gwichlais lion gochelai serch. 4S 

Caeljis o Wiliam, cael fa ; 

Lardies nid o law wrda ; 

Ceiniogau, lle'u cynnygian', 

Ac weithiau 'r dimeiau man ; 52 

40. Jis, a fee. 50. Lardies — largess ; a present. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 



391 



A'm gollwng yn drablwng draw 
OV goegwledd yn wr gwaglaw. 

ddivriv rhov ddiovryd 

1 Flint gaeth a'i phlant i gyd ; 
Ei fwrn vaith val ufern vydd, 
A'i phobl Seisnig a'i phibydd ; 
Vy holl weddi vo'u lladdiant, 
Vy melltith i'w plith a'u plant ; 
Diau ym oes od av mwy, 
Iddi eilwaith na ddelwy'. 



56 



60 



57- Ei fwrn vaith, " its vast fur- 
nace." Flint, even in the bard's time, 
was famous for its furnaces for smelt- 
ing lead ores. 



61. Diau ym oes, Sec. " Verily, 
should I in my lifetime happen to go 
to Flint again once more ; may I never 
afterwards visit the place." 



392 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 



VIII. 



I PHYLIB AB RHYS, O GENARTH, YN NGWRTHEYRNION 
A GWENLLTAN EI WRAIG, MERCH OWAIN 
GLYNDWR. 



The bard, after giving an outline of the pedigrees of the families to which 
Philip and his wife belonged, proceeds to say of himself : — 

" As a vessel directs its course to the haven, its place of destination ; so do 
I, in like manner, direct my eyes towards Cenarth as the haven where I long 
to be. And as the magnetic needle of the mariner's compass ever points to 
the north ; so do I also constantly look towards Cenarth the polar star of my 
attraction." 



Y gwr a'r pedwar gorwydd, 

A'i gwrs ev oedd garu swydd ; 

Phylip ab Rhys gyf haelwych, 

Fel yw ei gorf hael a gwych. 4 

Un o wraidd yw hwn a'i ran 

O achoedd Phylip Vychan ; 

Carw 'n rhoddi da yn ddioed, 

Calon Gwrtheyrnion a'i throed ; 8 

Wyr Ieuan Llwyd rho'i win llawn 

Vlaenorav o Lyn Aerawn. 

Ev a wyr yn ei vawredd, 

Wyr Ieuan Moel, ranu medd. 12 

Ni bu lesg yr un o'i blaid, 

No'i hyn ev a'i henaviaid ; 

NcTi ev a'i henvam evo, 

No'i dad a'i vam, no'i dud vo ; \6 

Mab yn nghyvraith, o thraithir, 

I'r hen Gwyn vu 'n rhanu gwir. 



VIII. Addressed to Philip ab in the parish of St. Harmon, Radnor- 
Rhys, of Cenarth ; and his wife shire. 

Gwenlliant, daughter of Owain Glyn- 18. hen Givyn = Grufydd Varwn 

dwr. Cenarth is in Gwrtheyrnion Gwyn, ancestor of Owain Glyndwr. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 



Gwenlliant i'w veddiant vo 

O Sycharth, a droes ucho ; 

Y gwe lawnt o Owain y Glyn, 

Ac unverch yw o Gynvyn ; 

Aur tawdd yw o gorf Llawdden, 

Edau aur ydyw o Wen, 

O Aron o Veirionydd 

Eigr yw a ddaeth val gwawr ddydd. 

Merch hael o Rufydd Maelawr 

Draw a merch Rhodri Mawr. 

Hon yw bonedd ein hynys, 

Pwy yw 'r ail? Phylip ab Rhys. 

I'm cartrevig yn trigo, 

Enyd vum i o'i dai vo. 

Madws i'm val am dai Sieb, 

Adrev yno droi v'wyneb. 

Ac unvodd am hil Cynvyn, 

Wyv vi a'r llong ar vdr Uyn ; 

Ei phen vydd a'i gwydd i gyd 

I'r havn ac i'r tir hefyd. 

Un o nod wyv a'r nodwydd 

Yn y blwch, er yn ddyn blwydd ; 

A'i phen lie mae'i Diemwnt 

Yn arwydd hyd y Nordd hwnt. 

Neuadd Phylip yn wyal 

Yw Gogledd medd ac aur mal ; 

A'm pen i'w lys vwynwen vo, 

Drwy Wynedd a dry yno. 

E ran, Gwenllian o'r llys, 

Ar ei law, aur i Lewys. 

Ni bydd heb roi gwin o bib, 

Yr un fael o ran Phylib. 



20 



24 



28 



32 



36 



40 



44 



48 



20. Sycharth, Owain Glyndwr's 
residence, in the parish of Llansilin. 
See Cambro-Briton, vol. I. pp. 459- 
461. 

22. o Gynvyn, Glyndwr was li- 
neally descended from Bleddyn ab 



Cynvyn. 

27- Rufydd Maelawr, an ancestor 
of Glyndwr, fourth in descent from 
Bleddyn ab Cynvyn. 

49. gwin o bib, " wine from the 
wood." 

2 D 



394 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Phylip vydd llywydd pob Llan, 

Ac un llywydd Gwenllian. 52 

Iddynt y canav weddi, 

A gwin a vydd a ganav vi ; 

Iddynt hwy ydd wyv weddiwr, 

A wna gwawd i Wen a'i gwr ; 56 

Iddynt hwy ydd el dwyoes 

Wedi ydd el y drydedd oes. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 395 



IX. 



MARWNAD RHYS AC OWAIN, MEIB PHYLIP AB RHYS, 
O GENARTH. 



"It distresses me to think that I now tread upon the ground beneath which 
both Rhys and Owain lie. Ah ! it is but too true, the grave is the end of all 
flesh, of the lowly as well as of the proud. The two brothers are gone to 
their long home ; so that Cenarth is turned into a house of mourning, and 
the much frequented Sycharth hath ceased to be a house of mirth. The 
country is sad on account of their death ; and the bards weep over their 
grave, for they were warriors who befriended the A wen." 



Rhys, Owain rymus val yr on, o bryd 

Llaw a braich Sain Harmon ; 

Aeth y rhai'n o Wrtheyrnion, 

I wlad nev i weled Non. 4 

Och, Non a Charon I Och, Iorys ! o'i gor, 

Am geirw Phylip ab Rhys ; 

Och fi ! 'r Iesu ; Och, Vreusys ! 

Rodiaw gro ar eu dau grys. 8 

Deugrys, heb lewys, i'r bobl war hirion, 

Yw hiraeth a galar ; 

Dwybais o ddwyais y ddar, 

Dau wn o nev a daiar. 12 

Daiar yw diwedd divalch, balch, a'u bedd ; 

Dialedd rhyvedd ydy w dwyn Rhys ! 

Owain y ieuav, hwn a'r brawd hynav 

Wr haelav, penav, val pren Pinus. 16 

IX. An elegy upon Rhys and Iorys, St. Iorys, to whom was de- 
Owain, the sons of Philip ab Rhys, dicated tbe church of St. Iorus in 
of Cenarth. Cwmwd Glyn Ogwr, Glamorgan- 
Arms : 1 and 4 or lion regardant shire, 
argent : 2 and 3 or party per pale 7- Vreusys = Ffreusys, saint Fran- 
and chevron azure, a lion regardant cis, the founder of the Franciscan 
sable. order of friars. 

5. Caron, saint, to whom Tregaron 0. Deugrys =dau amdo. 
church, in Cardiganshire, is dedicated. 

2d2 



396 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Nid llawen Cenarth heb weilch Deheubarth, 

Na Sycharth buarth y ddwy Bowys; 

Nid tir heb wirawd ; nid trev heb ddevawd ; 

Nid parawd dyrnawd heb vawd, heb vys. 20 

Mae gwlad y tad hael heb dda, heb ddwyael ; 

Heb ei dwy avael, heb ei deuvys ; 

Gwr a oedd, a gwraig, wan am ddau benaig ; 

Ac o roi dwygraig ar eu deugrys. 24 

Dwy vawd i Vedwyr oeddynt lueddwyr, 

Dau eryr mur gwyr, val hen Gyrys ; 

Dwylaw eu deulan ; dau dwr ; dwy darian ; 

Deuvan, dwy winllan, o'r un wenllys. 28 



Hwyntau ill deuoedd dros dwr, dros diroedd, 

Oedd Ludd i viloedd, a Llevelys ; 

Broder am brydu i veirdd yn rhoi vu, 

Val bu i Gymmru Uthr ac Emrys. 32 






Llev ar Dduw nevol a wnawn a ni 'n ol, 

Llevain olynol ar ol yr ys ; 

Llewod Gwenllian nevoedd a novian'; 

111 dau yr aethan 1 i'r Llan o'r llys. 36 

Deuwyr oedd diriawg ; deusant i DVysa wg ; 

Dau osawg vreiniawg ; plwy vau 'r ynys ; 

Dwywlad a deulan dir oedd eu dwyran ; 

Nev weithian yw rhan Owain a Rhys. 40 



18. Sycharth buarth, &c. " Sy- rage of Rhys and his brother Owen, 

charth, the place of resort for the Bedwyr, the son of Pedrog, was a 

inhabitants of the two portions of celebrated warrior, and lived in the 

Powys :" namely, Powys Vadog and former part of the sixth century. He 

Powys Wenwynwyn. is styled the supreme of the three 

25. Dwy vawd i Vedwyr, " Bed- crowned chiefs of battle, who were 

wyr's two thumbs were each of them Trystan, Huail, and Cai. Camb. 

a host of warriors :" a compliment to Biog. 

the great personal strength and cou- 34. yr ys = yr ydys. 



Y D0SPARTH V. 397 




This poem furnishes another proof of the state of destitution into which 
the bard was reduced through the conduct, as has been already noticed, of 
the inhabitants of Chester. He had been plundered by them of all his furni- 
ture, so that he had not even a bed of his own to lie upon. He therefore, 
in this poem, appeals to the generosity of four ladies, hoping that between 
them they would kindly furnish him with a good sized bed and plenty of bed- 
clothes. 



Pedair gwragedd bucheddol, 

Pedair, ni wnair un yn ol ; 

Pedair Mair, dan rwym urael, 

Pedair Non sain Harmon hael. 4 

Llawen vydd Gwenllian verch 

Owain hen ; awn i'w hanerch ; 

Merch tywysog vreiniog vro, 

Q'r Cenarth yw 'r wraig bono. 8 

Eva yw 'r Hall vry, a'i llyn, 

Uchel ael verch Lywelyn; 

Enid Rhicart ab Einion, 

Un o hil Llawdden yw bon. 12 

Mallt verch Ivan Vychan vydd 

Moliannus, yn Maelienydd 

Elystan, yn Llan Anno; 

Hon yw y verch o , i hun vo. 16 



X. Addressed to four ladies, soli- (Dosp. V. 8.) 
citing them to present the bard with 9. Eva, daughter of Llywelyn, wife 

a bedstead and bedclothes. See notes of Rhicart ab Einion. (Dosp. IV. 17- 

to Dosp. I. 31 ; and Dosp. V. 6. 47.) 

The four ladies to whom the bard 13. Mallt, daughter of Ivan Vy- 

wrote were, chan, of Llan Anno, Radnorshire. 

5. Gwenllian, daughter of Owain In this parish are to be seen the re- 

Glyndwr, wife of Philip ab Rhys, mains of Castell Tiboeth. 

2d3 



398 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Elen Llwyd ar a weloch, 

Dda ei gair, verch Riifydd Goch; 

Gwin gwyn, a gynau, a gaid 

Gan Esyllt y Gwennhwysiaid. 20 

Llawen os adwaen ydyra, 

Llyna bedair gwreigdda grym ; 

Yn y byd ni wn bedair, 

A'u rhoi *n un, a rhai'n un air. 24 

Wrth y rhai'n o Wyrtheyrnion 

Y dysg mil hyd Wysg a Mon. 
Drysau ea pedair neuadd, 

Dros y byd, yw drws y badd. 28 

Ym nid oes, myn iad Oswallt ! 

Lai no medd Elen a Mallt ; 

Gwyrdd Eva wreigdda a ran ; 

Gwin yn Haw, gan Wenllian. 32 

Ar y rba^n ydd wyv mor hy, 

Chwe gwyl, ag erchi gwely ; 

Gwely yw ym, pan vwyv glav, 

Ni ad birnych baint arnav : 36 

Ym y bydd He mae ei bwys, 

Gorf eawg a orpbowys. 

Y nos y car vy nisyn 

Vwrw ei led ar gylched gwyn ; 40 

Cysgu awr, o cwsg erov, 

Esdynu uwch sidan ov. 

Tew o led, motley ydy w ; 

Tyner rhag y tanrew yw ; 44 

Lie meddal, mal y plu man, 

Lie esmwytb oil i hwsman. 

Dis ysgwar o gadas gwyn, 

Dor uchel rhwng dau ercbwyn ; 48 



1 7. Elen Llwyd, daughter of Grif- to his little boy who died when he 

iith (rough. was five years old. 

20, Essyllt, the name of several 42. sidan ov, silk that has not been 

illustrious ladies. worn. 

39. vy nisyn, a fondling term for 47. Dis ysgwar, diamond or lo- 

vy newis un. The bard here alludes zenge-shaped figures. 



Y DOSPARTH v. 399 

Erw o ddillad werdd wellwell, 

Allawr gwsg yn llawr y gell. 

Pob peth llian a brethyn, 

Pob pali gwyrdd, pob plu gwyn. 52 

Ar hwnw pan vo hirnos 

Y gwnair hun Vaelgwn yn Rhos. 

Mai Eli myvi a'i medd, 

Mai Enoc drugain mlynedd ; 56 

Ar hwn ni welwn un nos 

Weledigaeth lud agos ; 

Na seithugiaeth beth ni bydd, 

Na breuddwyd un boreuddydd ; 60 

Naill yr wyv ai 'n allawr Ron, 

Ai y'ngwely 'r engylion. 

Hwy roddant, bedair santes ! 

Ym wely sant mal y sies; 64 

A'r can o'u pedwar annedd, 

AY aur mawr a'r cwrw sCr medd ; 

Ac arian, a than, a thy, 

Gan' gwyl ; a gwin a gwely. 68 

54. hun Vaelywn, a proverbial expression for "a long nap." 



2d 4 



400 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XI. 



MARWNAD GWENLLIAN, MERCH OWAIN GLYN DWR, 
GWRAIG PHYLIP AB RHYS, O GENARTH. 



In this poem the bard bears high testimony to Gwenllian's attention to the 
poor ; and, speaking of her personal charms, he styles her, Gwenllian of the 
golden lock ; and, Gwenllian of the bue of the drifted snow. He mentions 
her father, Owain Glyndwr, as being once a powerful prince, having the 
whole of Wales under his command, with forty dukes for his allies ; and that 
he, in his old age, supported sixty-two female pensioners. He next mentions, 
by name, Gwenllian's two sons ; and again speaks of her liberality, and that 
of her generous husband. And, recalling to mind the many kind friends he 
had lost, he says, " If I had a tongue made of steel, and lungs of brass ; and 
were I able to lament them continually, I should never lament them suffi- 
ciently." 



Y wraig a oedd aur ei gwallt, 
O ryw hyddod y Rhuddallt; 
Llawen vu Wenllian verch 
Owain hen, Duw 'n ei hanerch ! 
Nid rhyvedd i'r Mawredd maith 
Euraw gwenlloer o Gynllaith. 



Y iaith, er ban aeth iV bedd, 
CTi thir a aeth i orwedd ; 
Diogach bellach i'r barth, 

Y daw gweiniaid i Genarth. 
Neuadd oedd newydd iddi, 
O vyrddau trev yr oedd tri. 
Mi a gawn i'm o Genarth 
Arian ar bob rhan oV barth ; 



12 



XL An elegy upon Gwenllian, 
daughter of Owain Glyndwr; and 
wife of Philip ab Rhys of Genarth. 

2. Rhuddallt, Grufydd o'r Rhudd- 
allt, in Rhiwabon, was ancestor of 
Owain Glyndwr. 

5. Mawredd maith, " the Majesty 



" supreme ;" the Deity. 

3-6. Llawen vu, &c. In this pas- 
sage Gwenllian is called the daughter 
of Owain of Cynllaith. Sycharth, 
Owain Glyndwr's residence, was in 
the lordship of Cynllaith Owain in 
Llansilin. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 401 

Ar bob troedvedd cyveddach, 

A hyn a wnai hen yn iach. 16 

Yn ei Haw i Wenllian 

Y rhoesant hwy air Sant Ann. 

Nid oedd Wenllian annoeth, 

A Gwen oedd dda ac yn ddoeth. 20 

A da oedd leuad Owain, 

A goreu 'n mysg aur a main. 

AH thad oedd DVysawg cadarn, 

A holl Gymmru vu 'n ei varn ; 24 

Talu i'n, rhoi mettel yn rhaid, 

A wnai 'ddeugain o Ddugiaid ; 

A thalu y bu, cyn y bedd, 

Drugain a dwy o wragedd. 28 

Llewod y sydd i Wenllian, 

A gwyr o'i hil a gai eu rhan. 

Maredydd, Davydd, goed on ! 

Mae'm obaith am ei meibion. 32 

Un hynt Owain eu hendad, 

Ydynt dan adain eu tad. 

Bu'n Nghenarth, bu'n Sycharth son, 

A thrueni 'Ngwrtheyrnion. 36 

Bu'n dolev bob un dilys, 

Bu bob rhai, Phylip ab Rhys ! 

Gwenllian oedd lliw 'r waneg, 

A'i phriod oedd a friw deg. 40 

Un wyl uchel ni lechynt, 

Na dydd gwaith nac undydd gynt. 

Yn un hwy a roen 1 enyd 

Rodd Basc a harddai y byd. 44 

Rhodd Nadalig is brig bron, 

Rhodd ail ormodd wyl Armon. 

A bod Tm davod o'r dur, 

Heb un llev, heb un llavur ; 48 

A'm calon a'm bron o bres, 

Ac yn vaen gwyn y vonwes ; 



402 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ni pharhawn mwy no 'r gawnen, 

I gwynaw pawb ag un pen. 52 

Duw a ethol y doethion, 

Minnau sydd val briwydd bron. 

Gwenllian, mal gwinllan medd, 

Vu Luned vul o Wynedd. 56 

A Iesu vo cynnwyswr 

I Luned wen o Lyn Dwr ! 



Y DOSPARTH V. 



XII. 

I GRUFYDD AB RHYS AB IEUAN O EDEYRNION, 
YN MEIRIONYDD. 



Griffith ab Rhys is addressed as possessing powerful influence in the 
vale of Edeyrnion, and as a person whose private worth was highly appre- 
ciated. He, as well as his wife, is represented as being given to hospitality ; 
and as emulating, the one with the other, in acts of munificence. 



Y teyrn, mal traian Mon, 
O deyrnas Edeyrnion ; 
Grufydd, vwa prudd, vab Rhys, 
Vab Ieuan ran o'r ynys ; 
Galw Dervel o Lywelyn 
Ddu, vy mharch, ydd wyv am hyn. 
Ei blant a alwant, un wedd, 
Derw Llan Drillo o wynedd ; 
O'u blaen yntau a blanwyd 
O vrig oil hen Veirig Llvvyd. 
Evo yn gymmhwys, o phwysir, 
A bwysa wy th o bob Sir ; 



12 



XII. Addressed to Griffith ab Rhys 
ab leuan, of Edeyrnion, Merioneth- 
shire. Griffith ab Rhys had his pa- 
trimony and residence at Crogen, on 
the Dee, in the vale of Edeyrnion. 
The mansions of the tribe of Owain 
Brogyntyn, now Porkington, were 
thickly studded in this vale, namely, 
at Crogen, Rug, Hendwr, Dol y Gles- 
yn, Maesmor, &c. Griffith ab Rhys's 
wife was Annes verch Hywel, of the 
sept of Grufydd Goch, and also de- 
scended maternally from the Coet- 
mors of Nant Gonwy. The line of 
descent from Owain Brogyntyn, as 



here presented to the reader, is from 
a MS. of the year 1697- From 
Griffith ab Rhys to that date Crogen 
continued in the possession of the 
same family, the last proprietor named 
being Morgan Lloyd. It afterwards 
passed through several hands by sale 
and purchase, and is now the property 
of lord Ward, whose father came pos- 
sessed of it on the demise of the late 
viscount Dudley and Ward, who pur- 
chased the estate of Bell Lloyd, esq. 
This poem, and the two succeeding 
ones, are addressed to three several 
persons, descendants of Owain Bro- 



404 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Nid da dim oV tu y daw 
Heb ei osawd i'w bwysaw. 
OV mwn gwyllt, o'r main a gav, 
Yr aur tramawr yw 'r trymav ; 
Ei driphwys, a'i ddaed Rufydd, 
O aur a dal ar y dydd. 



gyntyn, who dwelt in the three seve- and Branas, at the same time, and 
ral mansions of Maesmor, Crogen, bearing the same name. 

Owain Brogyntyn, son of Madog ab Maredydd, prince of Powys. 

Ierwerth, inherited half of Edeyrnion after his father. 

Grufydd 

Davydd 

Davydd 

Llywelyn Ddu, named in the poem, (line 5th) . 

I 
Ievan 

I 
Rhys 

Grufydd ab Rhys ab Ievan = Amies verch Hywel. 



Hywel 

Thomas 

I 
Morgan Llwyd 

Llwyd 

Morgan Llwyd, of Crogen, about the year 1590, being thirteen descents 
from Owain Brogyntyn, reckoning 30 years to a generation. 

2. Edeyrnion, a comot of ancient A chan neb nid aethant yn myw 

Meirionydd, now a hundred. Its (tra vu byw) 

main portion is the beautiful valley Gorwynion, gwr o Uwchnant. 

t> ii , T1 txi ii 5. Dervel, an honorary epithet to 

Jrenllyn, above Llan Ddervel, down p f hh h "Rh 

to the boundary of Denbighshire, be- ™ \ , * D J*' on& rf ^ seyea 

lowCorwen. It was once the patn- ishes in Ede ; nion . The church 

mony of Edeyrn,one of the numerous f dedicated> according t0 Bonedd y 

sons of Cunedda Wledig. ^ &b ^ Had Q L * 

Llywarch Hen, m his Elegy on ^ Trillo was, probably, one of those 

Cynddylan, has a reference to this accompanied Cadvan to Wales, 

district, of which he says, ^ E{ J iphw ^ &c> u he is worth 

Gwartheg Edeyrnion ni buant ger- three times his weight in gold any 

ddenin, day." 



Y DOSPARTH V. 405 

Trywyr a bwysai 'r trihael, 

Bys i hwn a bwysai hael. 20 

Ewin bys un a bwysa, 

Ei law a'i ddwrn a dai dda. 

Rhodded gwinwr cyfredin, 

OV eiddew gwyr, arwydd gwin ; 24 

A vyn ei gael ev i'n gwydd 

Troi a wyr at yr arwydd. 

I dai Rufydd, o deirfordd, 

Troi a wnawn i tu ar Nordd ; 28 

Dau sin wrth ei dy y sydd, 

I wan ac i awenydd ; 

Sin dynion gweinion o gan 

Sin i arall sy'n arian. 32 

Saith gant o dai Sant Antwn, 

Mwy sydd ar un maes i hwn. 

A'r ddau a bair roddi bwyd 

A gynnalian' gan aelwyd. 36 

G rufydd maen muchudd a medd 

Ail i Annes haul wynedd, 

Merch Hywel, er a weloch, 

A ddaw o gyf Grufydd Goch. 40 

Pan gad wedi 'thad a'i thaid 

Y caed Mair o'r Coedmoriaid. 

Pibau organ a ganant 

Yn gytun val y gwna tant ; 44 



19. trihael=-y tri haelion ; sev, Gaieta, Cortona, Sienna, Florence, 

Nudd, Rhydderch, a Mordav. Pistoia, Fiessoli, and some other places 

24. eiddew gwyr= eiddew gwyrdd, in Italy, 

green ivy. Ivy for a sign of a bunch 42. Mair o'r Coedmoriaid, that is, 

of grapes. Lewis Morris. Green Ivy Annes of the family of Coetmors was 

over the door of a house, when the a saint Mary. Coedmawr, an ancient 

bard wrote, was indicative of there mansion, commonly called Coetmor, 

being wine for sale within. near Llan Degai, in Arvon. The 

31. sin, see Dr. W. O. Pughe's family took the surname of Coetmor; 

Diet. of whom was Hywel Coetmor, buried 

33. Sant Antwn, St. Anthony, a at Llanrwst. See Pennant's Tour in 

native of Florence, was born in tbe Wales. A son or grandson of Hywel 

year 1389. Before his elevation to Coetmor sold Gwydir to an ancestor 

the bishopric of Florence, he was prior of sir John Wynn, bart., the histo- 

of the Dominican convents (saith gant rian . 
o dai Sant Antwn) at Pome, Naples, 



406 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

M6r gytun yw 'r vun veinael 

I roi rhodd a'i heryr hael : 

Hwn a rydd tra vo hinon, 

Erchi rhoi arch a wyr hon ; 48 

Gantho vo y ca" wahodd, 

Genthi hi, er hyn, ganwaith rodd ; 

Grufydd yn rhoi 'vudd yw vo, 

Y hi Annes yw hdno ; 52 
Nid oedd o egin deuddyn 

Rai mor hael a'r Cymmry hyn. 

Ni ddel oedran i anhael, 

Nid a yn hen ond un hael ; 56 

Y ddar vydd hyn noV dderwen, 
Ivor Hael a vu wr hen ; 
Grufydd i oed Nudd vo nes, 

Aed yr un oed ar Annes. 60 






Y DOSPARTH V. 407 

XIII. 

I GRUFYDD AB RHYS AB DAVYDD AB HYWEL, 
O DINMAEL. 



The bard opens his poem by giving an outline of Griffith's pedigree. He 
then states that no obstacle, such as the difficulties of surmounting Pimlym- 
mon, Cader Tdris, and other places, should deter, or prevent, him from pay- 
ing a visit to one who was so illustriously descended ; one whose house was 
ever open, and himself as munificent as an Ivor, or a Mordav. He next 
observes the harmony of mind, as well as the affectionate and mutual attach- 
ment, that existed between Griffith and his wife ; and concludes by recount- 
ing several instances of their munificence. 









XIII. Addressed to Griffith ab Rhys ab Davydd ab Hywel, of Dinmael, 
Denbighshire. 

Owain Brogyntyn 

Bleddyn, he had Dinmael for his portion. 

Owain 

Grufydd = daughter of Grufydd Varwn gwyn, of Castell Dinas 

Bran. 
Hywel =Angharad, da. of Cynvrig Sais, from Edwin prince of Englefield. 

Davydd = A ngharad, da. of Rhys ab Robert, from Ednyved Vychan. 

Rhyst=Gwervyl, da. of Madog ab Maredydd, of the tribe of Tudur Trevor. 

See Dosp. V. 2. and 11. 
Grufydd ab Rhys ab Davydd = Margaret, merch Robyn ab Grufydd 

IGoch, icyres of Tudur y Glyn (in 
line 48). 
Robert = Margaret, da. of Henry Salisbury of Llawesog: issue 10 sons and 

5 daughters, all married. 
Robert Wynn=Mali, da. of Davydd Llwyd of Glan y Llyn. 
Pierce Maesmor,=Lowry, da. of Cadwaladr Prys of Rhiwlas. 
of Maesmor, in 
Dinmael. 

Cadwaladr=Gwen, da. of Maredydd ab Gronwy of Dyfryn Aled. 

Pierce =Magaret, da. of Sion Aer Conwy. 

Robert= Jane, da. of Nicholas ab Edward, Garth Lwyd. 

John Maesmor, = Catherine, da. of Humphrey Hughes, of Gwerklas. 
li ving in 1679. | 

Robert Maesmor, = Anne, da. of Thomas Pryse of the Giler family, 
son and heir. 

Eventually, the heiress of Maesmor, about the year 1775? or from 
that to 1780, married Edward Lloyd, esq. of Trevnant, in Mont- 
gomeryshire, in which family the estate still remains. 



408 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Yr hwn a elwid Ivor Hael, 

Neu ei unmab, sy 'n Ninmael ; 

Griifydd, Nudd awenyddion, 

Ab Rhys, nid haelach mab bron, 

Wyr Davydd a'r gair divas, 

Ab Hywel, wych yn mhob Plas. 

Rhad Madog Amharedydd, 

Ddoe a roed yn ei ddau rudd ; 

Gynt, i Owain Brogyntyn, 

Wedi rhoi ei dir ei hun ; 

Gwr oedd ar gwareu iddaw, 

Grufydd wych o'i gorf a ddaw ; 

Cyvarwydd y cyveiriwn 

OV Deau hir i dai hwn ; 

Dros Bum Llumon oV vron vry, 

Dros Gader Idris gwedy ; 

O Garno dros Glegyrnant, 

Dros y Waun wen, uwch Drws y Nant ; 



12 



16 



2. Dinmael, a lordship in Denbigh- 
shire. Llys Dinmael was, probably, 
Griffith's mansion. 

4. mab bron=mab gwraig = mab 
bron ei vam. 

7- Madog Amharedydd, ab Bleddyn 
ab Cynvyn, the father of Owain Bro- 
gyntyn. Madog had Edeyrnion and 
Dinmael for his portion. 

15. Pum Llumon = Pum Llum- 
man, the mountain of Pimlymraon, 
so called from its having five sum- 
mits, on each of which there was a 
beacon erected. 

17- O Garno i Glegyrnant, Carno 
is a parish in the comot of Uwch 
Coed, in the hundred of Llanidloes, 
Montgomeryshire. In this parish 
were fought two bloody battles. The 
first between leva and Iago, sons of 
Idwal Voel, at the head of an army 
consisting of Northwallians, on the 
one hand; and their cousins, the 
sons of Howel Dda, at the head of 
Southwallians on the other. This 
took place in the year 940. The con- 
test was for the absolute sovereignty 
of the whole of Wales ; and in the 



battle leva and Iago were the victors. 

The second battle of Carno took 
place in the year 1077? between 
Grufydd ab Conun, grandson of the 
above Iago; and Trahaern ab Cara- 
dog, the reigning usurper of the 
crown of Gwynedd. Grufydd was 
victorious ; and kept possession of the 
principality for 57 years, through va- 
rious vicissitudes of fortune. These 
battles at Carno have been transfer- 
red by some writers to Mynydd Car- 
no, in Brecknockshire, where a bloody 
engagement took place in the year 
948, between Rhodri Molwynog and 
Ethelbald the Mercian, when the for- 
mer claimed the victory. The waters 
of the Usk proved fatal to the cause 
of Ethelbald ; for as many of the 
Mercians as endeavoured to make 
their escape through the flood were 
swept off and drowned. 

Clergyrnant, a rivulet in Llanbryn- 
mair. Its name, signifying a stony 
brook, is derived from clegyr, rocks ; 
stones. 

18. Drws y Nant, is situated mid- 
way between Dolgelley and Bala. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 409 

I dir y paun, drwy dy 'r porth, 

I dai Rufydd a'i driphorth ; 20 

Ar y rhai'n, dan bwys v'einioes, 

Na phorthor, na dor nid oes. 

Ivor, yn amser Davydd, 

Wedi rhoi y byd o aur rhudd ; 24 

Duw a ddaeth ato "n rhith dyn 

I roi mil o aur melyn. 

Mordav hevyd a gavas, 

O wyrth ei law, ar berth las, 28 

Mwyar heb rwym ar y brig, 

Yn y dail y Nadalig. 

Grufydd yw 'r hydd, ar eu hoi, 

Yn rhoi aur yn rhy-wrol ; 32 

Er a roddo o ruddaur, 

Ev a vydd vwyvwy ei aur. 

Gnawd hael o hael wrth heiliaw, 

Gnawd ir yd egino draw ; 36 

Gnawd rawyalch y'mrodir, 

Gnawd hael o vewn gwindai hir ; 

Gnawd yma wr da, dioed, 

OV gwr, a'r wraig orau Vioed. 40 

Hwn, mab i Varwn yw vo, 

A JBarwn y w hwn heno ; 

Erioed ydd aeth ei redeg 

O vewn y dyngedven deg. 44 

Pe cai Rufydd, mewn rhuddaur, 

Verch i Iarll a'i veirch a'i aur ; 

Dewis a wnai 'r Blodeuyn 

Draw, gael wyr Tudur y Glyn. 48 

Dau val yr haul a'r lleuad, 

Duw gwyn, a Dewi, a'u gad ! 

Mab Rhys, a'i air megys medd, 

Merch Rhobyn wyn o Wynedd ; 52 

Merch o vonedd llwyth Bleddyn, 

Marg'red am aur, gorau dyn ! 

41. Mab i Varwn, an allusion to 50. a'u gad, that is, will let them 

Griffith being lord of Dinmael. live long. 

2 E 



410 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Gwirawd a rydd, ac arian, 

Grufydd, ev a rydd ei ran : 56 

Grufydd y muchudd a'r main, 

Ac aur rhywiawg o'r rhiain ; 

Gorau undyn, llyn o'i Haw, 

Yw hon, eithr hwn ei hathraw : 60 

Hon yw chwaer Non a enwav, 

Henwi Nudd o hwn a wnav; 

Hwn a ddaw ^n oedran Daniel, 

Hon i oed hwnw a el. 64 



Y DOSPARTH V. 



411 



XIV. 

I GRUFYDD AB RHYS AB JEUAN, O VRANAS, YN 

MHLWYV LLANDRILLO YN EDEYRNION, 

PAN OEDD AR Y MOR. 



This poem commemorates the circumstance of Griffith ab Rhys embarking 
in a vessel when he went, in the character of a pilgrim, to visit the tomb of 
St. James the elder. A description of the ship, in which he was conveyed, is 
given, with an assurance that under the guidance and protection of St. James 
no danger was to be apprehended. 



Ba dir yw wyneb y dawn ? 
Ba dir wyneb Edeyrniawn ? 



XIV. Addressed to Griffith ab 
Rhys ab leuan of Branas, in the pa- 



rish of Llandrillo in Edeyrnion, when 
he was out on a voyage. 

Owain Brogyntyn 

Grufydd 

Davvdd 



Llywelyn Ddu, lord of Uwch-Alwen in Edeyrnion. 



vyc 
Llywelyn 



leuan ab Llywelyn Ddu = . . . . da. and heiress of leuan, 

She was called Arlwyddes Crogen. 
Rhys ab leuan = 



I 
Grufydd ab Rhys = 



Annes verch 
Hywel. 



I 
Davydd ab Rhys = 
of Gwerclas, in | 
Edeyrnion. 



Hywel ab Grufydd ab Rhys = Catherine, a 



He had the estate of Cro- 
gen. 



descendant 
of Osbwrn 
Wyddel. 



Thomas ab Hywel = Catherine, from the 
| Penwyn of Melai. 



Morgan ab Thomas = 
Davydd Llwyd = 



Reinallt ab 
Grufydd 
Rhys. He had 
Branas 



Morgan Llwyd, = 
of Crogen. 



Robert ab Keinallt = Elizabeth Conwy, 
[ of Bryn Euryn. 

Morgan ab Robert = 

Humphrey ab Morgan = 

Morgan Branas = 

Humphrey Branas, of Branas Uchav. 

2 e 2 



Grufydd Vychan 

! 

William ab Grufydd 

Huw ab William 

I 
Richard Hughes 

Humphrey Hughes, 
of Gwerclas, esq. 
See York's Royal 
Tribes, p. 179; 
also a monument 
to his memory in 
Llangar Church. 



412 



LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 



Ba lys ar blasau hirion ? 
Branas ; Sieb yr ynys hon. 
Ba blwyv, pan ovynwyv vo, 
Neu dri well, no Llan Drillo? 
Oddiyno at Iago 'n tad 
Yr aeth gwr wrth ei gariad. 
Grufydd, ddedwydd ei adu, 
Fn oedd wyr Llewelyn Ddu ; 
Mab gwinau Rhys ab Ieuan 
Mae ar lwf yn camu Tr lan.- 

Mae Annes yn darauno 
I dir o vor ei droi vo. 
Merch Hywel geilw ar Elien, 
Ac ar y saint, a'r groes wen. 
Y dydd Grufydd y'scrafwyd, 
Ac i long mor Iago lwyd ! 
Gweddiaw, ger Haw gwyr lien, 
Yr oedd Annes ar Ddwynwen ; 
Saint Ann Grufydd yw Annes, 
Saint Ann wen ! moes yntau 'n nes. 
Annes a oedd yn y saint, 
Wawr ymbilgar, am bylgaint, 
Ar Drillo, ar Wynio wyn, 
Ac ar Iago a'i gregyn : 
A'r Hong vawr a ellwng yo 
Drwy eigion i dir Iago. 
I dy Iago y dygir, 
Iago a'i dwg hi i dir ; 



12 



. 



20 






24 



28 



7. Iago y n tad, James the elder, 
the patron saint of Spain. His body, 
after his martyrdom, is said, in his 
legend, to have been conveyed thither, 
and laid in a chest of marble in the 
place where the town of Compostella 
now stands. Pilgrimages were made 
here from all parts of Christendom, 
the which pope Urban made to be re- 
garded as of equal merit to that of 
going to Jerusalem. The supposed 
body lies under the great altar. The 
Spaniards, in going to war, used to 
invoke his aid ; and they affirm that 
he had been often seen, on a white 



charger, at the head of their armies. 
He was also esteemed as the guardian 
saint of the sea ; and many are the 
lives reported to have been saved by 
him when they called upon him in 
their distress. Festival, 26th July. 

17- y ' scrafwyd = yr ysgrafwyd, 
that is, " when he was embarked on 
board a vessel." 

18. mor Iago lwyd, " the sea, 
whose guardian saint is the venera- 
ble James." 

21. Saint Ann, the mother, accord- 
ing to the Roman catholic legends, of 
the blessed virgin. Festival, 26th July. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 413 

A'i thop castell o bell byd, 

A'i theirhwyl o wyth wrhyd ; 32 

A'i theirhwyl yn dri thoryn, 

A'i rhafau oil val rhy w fyn ; 

A'i llyw main yn tyllu mor, 

A'i dengwart a'i dau angor ; 36 

A'i hwylbren hi val bron hav, 

A'i naw bwned yn benav ; 

Aredig mor digam oedd, 

Y mae aradr y moroedd ; 40 
Gwydd Iago 'n goddeu eigion, 
Gwenol deg yn ael y don ; 
Llong vawr val cell eang vain, 

Llun lleuad a llenlliain ; 44 

Llong Noe, dull eang wen yw, 
Llun delor rhag llanw diluw ; 
Llong Frengig debyg i dy 

V'ai a'i wyneb i vyny ; 48 

Cist irdderw cost Iwerddon, 
Cryd hir yn caruaw ton ; 

Cawell eang wrth angor, 

Castell a'i vantell o vor ; 52 

Carwel yn rhwygaw heli, 

Corn hely ar vor crwn yw hi ; 

Ni vynai i nev uniawn, 

Grufydd, ond ysgraff dda iawn. 56 

Dwg, Raphael ! gyda Grufydd, 

Dan dy ras, dau enaid rydd ; 

Dan un, pan elont yn nes, 

Y daw enaid i Annes ; 60 
IV dau gorff gras Duw a gaid, 

Dwy einioes i'w dau enaid. 

38. bwned, a bonnet. Bonnets [in on the courses on the mizzen, main- 
the sea language] are small sails set sail, and foresail. Johnson's Diet. 



2e3 



414 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



XV. 

I GRUFYDD DERWAS, O NANNAU. 



The bard in this poem makes known to Grufydd Derwas bis intention of 
visiting Nannau. He appears as desirous of going there as a palmer may be 
to see holy places. He states that Grufydd Derwas was descended|from Meirig 
Llwyd, and also from Ynyr ; and that Gwenhwyvar Stanley, Grufydd's wife, 
was of the family of Tegeingl. 



Mi a av i yved y medd 
I dai enaid dwy Wynedd. 
Grufydd Derwas yw nasiwn, 
Gorau Grufydd yw V hydd hwn 
Yn un 11 un a Meirig Llwyd, 
I hull Wynedd y lluniwyd ; 
Llyna gledd G wynedd a'i gwyr, 
Llew Nannau a llin Ynyr ; 
Ei enw evo yno vydd 
Ivor wyn o Veirionydd ; 
Ev a wyr, wrth roi 'vara, 
Gostio aur ac osai da ; 
A Gwenhwyvar, o'i harian, 
Y Stanley ) wyr costio 'n Ian. 
O lyvr ach, yn Nhegeingl vro 
Y bu hynaiv by w horio ; 



12 



16 



XV. Addressed to Grufydd Der- 
was, of Nannau, Meirionethshire. 

Grufydd was a younger son of 
Meirig Llwyd, of Nannau ; and had 
his residence finally at Cemmaes in 
Montgomeryshire. His elder brother 
Hywel Sele, who was disposed of by 
Owain Glyndwr, held the paternal 
estate of Nannau. From Hywel are 
descended the present Vaughans of 
Nannau, Hengwrt, and Rug. 

Grufydd Derwas, according to an 
original and contemporary deed in the 
possession of W. W. E. Wynne, esq. 
of Peniarth, was living at Michael- 



mas, 1416, being the 4th of Henry V. 
It appears also from an extract from 
a pedigree drawn out, by Randle 
Holme of Chester, for the celebrated 
colonel Jones, (the regicide,) that he 
was an esquire of the body to king 
Henry VI. 

3. nasiwn— nation. " He is nation 
good," is a provincial expression for 
very good. 

13. Gwenhwyvar. The bard here 
traces Gwenhwyvar Stanley's family 
from Tegeingl in Flintshire, and 
mentions Uchdrud, Howel ab Tudnr, 
and Ithel, as being her ancestors. 



Y DOSPARTH V. 415 

Uchdrud Howel ab Tudur, 

Ithel gynt yn ethol gwyr ; 

Hil y Marchogion y w hi 

I gael gair o Gilgwri ; 20 

Palmer wyv, wener a iau, 

I chwaer hon a charw Nannau. 

Tair fynori, gwynion eu gwedd, 

Draw a gair i'r drugaredd ; 24 

Y bedd, a Sain Siam drwy 'r byd, 
A Rhufain a gair hefyd. 

Wedi rhivwyv dai Rhuvain, 

Nannau rhoer yn un o'r rhai'n ; 28 

Rhoer Grufydd beunydd yn Bawl 

Ac yn Bedr gwin bydawl ; 

Ei dai naddvain yw Sain Siam, 

Duw doniodd ei dai dinam ; 32 

IV gwirion mae 'n drugarawg, 

I wan y rhydd win y rhawg. 

Llyna i'm bump llawenydd, 

Nev i wan yno a vydd. 36 

Y sydd yn y nev o sant, 
Am y gwir a ymgarant ; 
Ag a oedd yn Nannau gynt, 

Am y gwir a ymgerynt. 40 

Yr awrhon mae rhai eraill 

Yn eu He 'n dwyn enw y llaill ; 

Gwraig y sydd, myn y grog sant ! 

A gwrda *n un gyweirdant. 44 

Brychan gynt, Brycheiniog oedd, 

A'i wraig ieuanc ar gyhoedd ; 

A Duw a'u gyrodd ill dau 

Yn saint yn eu hoes hwyntau. 48 



20. Cilgwri, a place in Flintshire, a pilgrim Avho visited holy places. 

on the borders of Cheshire. There is 22. i" chwaer honszi chwaer Gwen- 

a tradition, often mentioned by the hwyvar Stanley, 
poets, the origin of which is now lost, 23. Tair fynon, " three sources of 

about the eagle of Cilgwri. curiosity to pilgrims ; namely, (lines 

21. Palmer, (so called from a staff 25,26), the holy sepulchre, St. James's 
of a palm-tree which they carried as tomb, and Rome. 

they returned from the holy land) ; 

2 e4 



416 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Grufydd tebyg i Raphael 

Yw y sant a'r Ddwy wes hael ; 

Seiriol a gat wo 'r seren, 

Sant Friswydd Meirionydd wen. 52 

Sant Catrin am win a medd, 

Sant Fraid gweiniaid tir Gwynedd ; 

Gwenhwyvar a gar geirwir, 

Gwenvrewi Ardudwy dir ; 56 

Dwynwen o Aleth frenin, 

Da yw i roi deuryw win. 

Da wr yw Grufydd Derwas, 

Ac i roi gwledd wrth gwyr glas. 60 

Gwnaethan' i bob gwan giniavv, 

Gwnan 1 roi aur llydan rhagllaw. 

GwHaethan 1 roi gwin i wytbiaith, 

Gwnan* yn ol roi gwin Tn iaith. 64 

Gwnaeth Duw hwyntau yn ddeuwell, 

A Duw ni wnaeth dynion well. 

50. Dwywes=Dxvywe, the daugh- 55. Gwenvrewi, or St. Winefred. 
ter of Gwallog ab Llenog and the It is doubtful whether there ever ex- 
wife of Dunawd. Here a compli- isted a saint of the name of Wine- 
mentary epithet. fred. The probability is, that the 

52. Sant Friswydd, St. Frideswide, saint is but an imaginary one ; and 

born at Oxford, in the beginning of that the name Winefred is the same 

the eighth century. Her shrine is with Gwenfrwd, which means, in 

still to be seen at Christ Church ca- English, " the crystal stream." See 

thedral in good preservation. Festi- her Legend in Rees's Welsh Saints, 

val, 11th of February. pp. 295-297- 









Y DOSPARTH V. 417 

XVI. 

I WILYM AB GRUFYDD DERWAS. 

The bard states that William ab Griffith lived in the neighbourhood of 
Cemmaes within the manor of Cyveiliog ; and that his wife's name was Ellen, 
daughter of Davydd Llwyd of New Town, who was descended from Einion 
of Kerry, Montgomeryshire; and Owain of Tywyn, Cardiganshire. And 
William ab Griffith he mentions as descending from Meirig Llwyd of Nannau, 
and from Ynyr. 

-8S* 

Y gwr hael a drig y rhawg 

A'i voliant yn Nghy veiliawg ; 

Gwilym, a'i rym yn yr ais, 

O'r cwramwd uwchlaw 'r Cemmais ; 4 

Ab Gmifydd, lywydd y wledd ; 

Derwas enwawg dros Wynedd. 

Ni bu ddrwg mewn gwg a gau 

Neb o lin Ieuan Blaenau ; 8 

Galw y mae Gwilym ei wyr 

I oes enyd a'i synwyr. 

Priodes, pwnc pur ydyw, 

Yr un verch orau yn vyw ; 12 

Elen, hi a ganmolwyd, 

Dda ei llin verch Davydd Llwyd ; 

Gwawrddydd ein Tre 1 Newydd ni, 

Gorwyr Einion o Geri ; 16 

A llin wrth ddeall hyny 

Owain o vro Tywyn vry. 

A Gwilym, ni vygylwyd, 

Yw y Hall o Veirig Llwyd. 20 

O Nannau iven, yn un wedd, 

Ac o Ynyr, n^n Gwynedd ! 

Y wlad lie mae benadur 

Ysgwydd yw ev a wisg dur ; 24 

Dwrn a braich, a chadernyd, 

Ydyw'r gwr i'w dir i gyd. 



XVI. Addressed to William ab 14. Davydd Llwyd, see Dosp. III. 

Griffith Derwas, of Cemmaes, Mont- 1, 2. 
gomeryshire. 23. Y wlad—ysgwyM y wlad, &c. 



GWAITH 
LEWIS GLYN COTHL 

DOSPARTH VI. 

LLWYTH BROCHWEL YSGYTHROG. 



MARWNAD SYR GRUFYDD VYCHAN O BOWYS. 



The bard alludes to the distracted state of the country at large ; and 
laments, with the lamentation of Merlin the Wild, the foul deeds of which 
king Henry VI., by advice in council, was guilty of in beheading sir Griffith. 
He describes the land of Powys as being in a state of perfect consternation on 
hearing of the summary manner in which sir Griffith was dispatched. 






Drwg iawn yw pob anobaith, 
Duw nev ! oes wared i'n iaith ? 



I. An elegy upon sir Griffith Vy- 
chan of Powys. 

The person to whose memory this 
elegy was composed, had several in- 
cidents in his life worthy of being 
recorded, as they are not commonly 
known save to readers of manuscript 
history. In our pedigree books he is 
styled, " Sir Griffith Vaughan, lord 
of Burgedin, &c. knight banneret,'''' 
having been knighted {they say) under 
Henry Vth's banner on the field of 
Agincourt, immediately after the battle 
in 1415. In 1417, he and his bro- 
ther, Ieuan ab Grufydd, were the 
chief instruments in apprehending sir 
John Oldcastle, lord Cobham, who 
had been condemned for maintaining 
the anti-popish tenets of WickliflF. But 



sir John escaping from the tower, in 
1413, lay concealed with some Lol- 
lard friends at Broniarth, near the 
residence of sir Grufydd Vaughan, 
up to the period of his being taken. 
The two brothers took the captive 
peer to Pool Castle, and delivered 
him over to Edward Charlton, lord 
Powys, who thought the capture a 
matter of such consequence, that he 
immediately dispatched his son-in-law, 
sir John Grey, with his prisoner to 
London, where he was immediately 
consigned to a cruel martyrdom. For 
this piece of service, deemed praise- 
worthy in those days of infatuated 
bigotry, lord Powys received in re- 
turn a letter of thanks from parlia- 
ment. Lord Powys, after a while, 



Y DOSPARTH VI. 



419 



Darvu ein gyru o'n gwedd, 
Delwau ym i'r dialedd ; 



rewarded sir Grufydd Vaughan and 
his brother Ieuan, for their share in 
the transaction ; as is evident from 
an original deed, in the possession of 
the descendants of sir Grufydd, at 
Garth, near Welshpool : of which the 
following is an extract. 

" Edward Charlton, lord Powys, 
to the honour of God, and in consi- 
deration of the diligence and assidu- 
ous pains taken by Ieuan ab Grufydd 
ab Ieuan ab Madoc ab Gwenwys, and 
Griffith Vidian his brother, in seizing 
John Oldcastell an heretic, and per- 
verter of the Catholic Faith, and an 
enemy to our sovereign king that 
now is ; at the instance of the said 
parties — the said lord Powys indem- 
nifies them of all murders and other 
misdemeanors by them committed on 
that occasion ; and also to the honour 
of the most omnipotent God, the said 
lord Powys remits unto the said Ieuan 
and Griffith in perpetuity all suits 
and services, porthiant hav, and por- 
thiant gauav, &c, for all their lands 
within his lordship's manor of Soith- 
stfad Marchell * * * paying in lieu 
thereof, of all rents and services what- 
soever, which they held or owed suit 
for, to the said lord Powys and his 
heirs, one barbed arrow yearly for 
ever at the feast of St. John the Bap- 
tist." *** " In cujus rei testimoni- 
um, &c. 

" His testibus Dauid Holbach tunc 
Senescallo nostro Powysie. Hugone 
Say tunc capitaneo castri n'ri de Pola. 
Matheo ap Ieuan ap Iorw' tunc re- 
ceptore nr'o ibidem. Thoma Biri- 
ton tunc constabulario castri n'ri de 
Pola. Thoma Vichan et Dauid Brail- 
ler armigeris nostris. Theodoro ap. 
Gr. clerico nr'o et multis aliis. Datur 
apud Manerium nostrum de Mathra- 
val sexto die mensis Julii anno regni 
regis Henrici quinti post conquestum 
septimo." (1420). 

The final incident in the life of sir 
Griffith Vaughan, is the catastrophe of 
his violent death. In the year 1447, 
the mal-administration of the foreign 
queen, (Margaret of Anjou,) the car- 
dinal of Winchester, De la Pole duke 
of Suifolk, &c, caused a ferment of 



discontent throughout the nation. 
The conquest of Henry V. and the 
regent duke of Bedford in France 
had been lost — the " good" duke 
Humphrey of Gloucester murdered — 
and the right heir to the crown, 
Richard duke of York, recalled from 
the regency of France, to make room 
for a court favourite. Richard of 
York himself did not as yet stir, but 
he had trusty emissaries abroad in 
most parts of the realm. From seve- 
ral passages in this elegy, and in an- 
other by a contemporary bard, Da- 
vydd Llwyd of Mathavarn, esq., it 
appears very probable that sir Griffith 
Vaughan held correspondence with 
some discontented Yorkists. This be- 
ing insinuated to the queen and her 
council, a treasury warrant was sent 
to Henry Grey, lord Powys, for the 
apprehension of sir Griffith ; and ac- 
cordingly, under some pretence or 
other, the knight was summoned to 
appear at the castle of Pool. He at 
first demurred ; but on receiving what 
he considered a " safe-conduct" he 
intended to confront his accusers ; 
but as soon as he arrived at the court- 
yard of the castle, he was apprehend- 
ed, and beheaded on the spot, " with- 
out either judge or jury." 

The passages in the elegies which 
favour this conclusion are the follow- 
ing: 

" Rhyvedd oedd ar gyhoedd gwyr, 
I Harri a'i gynghorwyr, 
Euravo pen oedd nen i ni, 
Wedi euraw ei dori! ,y 

u gi. com. 

" Am y gwr mwya' gerais 
A'r goler aur, cul yw'r ais. 

Od wyd, pa'm na chynneui dan 
Yn vy w iach, Gruffydd Vychan ? 
O'th las, veinwas, heb vyneg, 
Dialed Duw dy dal teg ! 
Nid allai ddyn, a. Haw ddig, 
Dy ladd, ond diawl o eiddig ; 

Y 'ngharwr ni chynghorais 
Ymddiried i " Signed' 1 '' Sais. 

Truain weddillion Troia ! 

Ni wyddem dwyll, amhwyll oedd, 

Y Saison er oes oesoedd ! 



420 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Darvu i Bowys beth truan, 
Duw a wnaeth ei bod yn wan. 
Rhyvedd oedd ar gyhoedd gwyr 
I Harri, sC'i gynghorwyr, 
Euraw pen oedd nen i ni, 
Wedi euraw ei dori ! 
O'r gorphwyll am Syr Griifydd 
Vy chart, nid wyv iach un dydd. 



12 



Pentywysog Cymru yn Muellt — 
Pen Grufydd way w meinrudd mellt, 
Vychan lew vach hwyn' a las, 
Varchog urddol vraich gwrddwas, 
Pen ni werthid er punnoedd, 
Pen glan vel pen Ivan oedd : 
Pen teg with ei anrhegu, 
Penrhaith i Bowys vaith vu ; 
Pen dedwydd, pen Llywydd lhvyd, 
Pen dillyn hyd pan dwyllwyd ; 
Pand oedd vrwnt y " Saf Cwndid" 
■ Pan las y pen hwn o lid ! 
A dores iarll dau-eiriog, 
Harri Grae ! — cafed Mr grog ! 

Davydd Llwyd o Vathavam. 

Sir Griffith Vaughan left three sons : 
the eldest was Davydd Llwyd, an- 
cestor of the Lloyds of Leighton 
(Llai) — Trewern — Talgarth — the 
Hem — Pool — and Moel y Garth. 
Humphrey Lloyd of Leighton, son 
of Davydd Llwyd, was the first she- 
riff of Montgomeryshire, and served 
the office two years, viz. 1540 and 
1541. Charles Lloyd of Moel y 
Garth, esq., was created a baronet by 
Charles II. in 1661 ; and his succes- 
sor of the same name, in the follow- 
ing century, stood a contest for the 
representation of the county in par- 
liament, in opposition to John Pugh 
of Mathavarn, esq., but without suc- 
cess. These two rival candidates were 
descendants, the former of sir Griffith 
Vaughan, the latter of Davydd Llwyd, 
who wrote the elegy on sir Griffith 
when murdered at Pool castle, and 
quoted above. 

From Cadwaladr, sir Griffith's se- 
cond son, descended the Lloyds of 



Maesmawr, now Jones, &c. 

Reinallt the third, was ancestor of 
the Wynns of Garth, now Mytton. 
All his descendants bore the arms of 
Brochwel Ysgithrog, the assumed 
founder of their tribe, viz. sable three 
nags' heads erased argent. 

Some of the chief actors in the 
tragedy of sir John Oldcastell* did 
not survive his lamentable cata- 
strophe many years : — 

Sir J. Oldcastell, hung up at the 
waist, by a chain, and burnt alive, 
in 1417 ; or, according to others, in 
1418. 

Edward Charlton, lord Powys, who 
sent him under a strong guard to 
Loudon, died in 1421. 

Sir John Grey, lord Powys's son- 
in-law, who had the charge of the 
prisoner from Pool castle to London, 
was killed at the battle of Bauge in 
France, in 1421. 

King Henry V. who connived at 
the burning of heretics, died of a 
pleurisy at Roan in Normandy, aged 
thirty-four, in 1422. 

Sir Griffith Vaughan, the principal 
captor of sir J. Oldcastell, fell head- 
less at the feet of Henry Grey, lord 
Powys, in the court-yard of Pool 
castle, in 1447- 

Henry Grey, lord of Powys, after 
a life of comparative insignificancy, 
died in 1450. 

Many will attribute these synchro- 
nisms to the character of the age and 
reign in which each of the incidents 
happened ; others will exclaim with 
the Psalmist — " Doubtless there is a 
God that judgeth in the earth." 



* Sir John Oldcastle, called in Welsh, Sion Hendy o Went Iscoed, was 
a native of the Welsh part of Herefordshire, a tract abounding with Wickliff- 
ites. He was a character celebrated in history for talents and bravery, too 
great and good for the age he lived in. 



Y DOSPARTH VI. 421 

Mae 'm \vn, val i Antwn lwyd, 

Am wr yma a eurwyd ; 

Mae i'm bais yma o'm barn, 

Iwrch coed, am varchawg cadarn ; 16 

Brawd wyv, lie 'f ydwyv ar ol, 

I Verddin am vy urddol. 

Ond y seithved awr ddedwydd 

Y earwn rhwng cyrn yr hydd ; 20 

O'r saith ugeinwaith a gad, 

Isa' ydyw ein gosodiad. 

Os isa' gynt vuV Saison, 

Isa 1 ym yn yr oes hon. 24 

Am Wenwys yma Ionawr, 

Mai 6d, yr aetham i lawr. 

Heb Lari, heb varchnad, heb lys, 

Heb haiach y mae Powys ; 28 

Heb enw y mae, heb anwyl, 

Heb ben, heb berchen, heb hwyl ; 

Heb ddyn, heb vywyd, heb dda, 

Heb ddim yw hebddo yma. 32 

Hyd lore y bu Hydrev dwys 

A'r gwanwyn ar y Gwenwys. 

Bu i'r Saison hinon a hav, 

I Bowys y bu auav. 36 

Hyd hyn y cawsom vyd da, 

Ac advyd, yn Nghegidva. 

Hyd hyn rhanasom y tir, 

Er hyn ; eto y rhanir. 40 

Seliwyd gwr dros ei elyn, 

Selau eu harvau vu hyn ; 

Evo yngo vu anghall, 

Hwyntau i gyd vuant gall. 44 

Llawer ymliw a cherydd 

Am dano yn Nghors Vochno vydd. 

Darogan Rhuddlan bod rhai 

O dylwyth a'i dialai ; 48 

lawn am dano vo oedd vod 

Ymwanu yn Nghwminod. 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Am Syr Grufydd y bydd byd, 

Am hwnw mae vy mbenyd ; 52 

Bid i Gadwaladr, o bydd, 

Y byd wrth ei enw bedydd. 

Byd a gawn rbwng bedw a gallt, 

Bid rhan oV byd i Reinallt ; 56 

Bid i dda vydd hwn iddaw, 

Bid ddyn os y byd a ddaw. 



Y DOSPARTH VI. 



423 



II. 



I GRUFYDD AB IEUAN AB MADOG AB GWENWYS, 
O GAWRES. 



This ode is addressed to Griffith ab Ieuan to excite him to action ; and to 
take signal vengeance on traitors, and other enemies of his country. The 
bard mentions Caus castle as being crowded with refugees ; but he does not 
mention whether they were Yorkists or Lancastrians. 



Crair Cawres gynhes sy genyd, Grufydd 
Grafwayw onen danllyd ; 



II. An ode addressed to Griffith 
ab Ieuan ab Madog ab Gwenwys. 
He was the father of sir Griffith 
Vychan of the last poem ; and it ap- 
pears from this ode that he had his 
residence at Caus, called, in Welsh, 
Cawres, in the parish of Worthen, 
Shropshire. 

Thomas Jones, esq. of Fountain 
Gate, the Twm Sion Catti of Ro- 
mance, left a folio volume of pedi- 
grees, of which the following is an 
extract. See Gawres, in p. 101. 

Grufydd ab Llywelyn ab Maredydd 
married Margaret daughter of Ieuan 
ab Madog ab Gwenwys, lord of Guils- 
field. 

Gwenevyr, daughter of Grufydd 
ab Llywelyn, married John Einws 
or Haynes (see line 51). 

Mary, daughter of John Einws 
and Gwenevyr, married Thomas 
Thynne of the Inn. Their son was 
sir John Thynne, knight, who mar- 
ried a daughter of sir Richard Gres- 
ham, knight ; and had eight sons, 
the youngest of whom was Egremont 
Thynne. 

From these Thynnes spring the 
viscounts Weymouth, and the mar- 
quisses of Bath. 

The grandmother of Margaret, wife 
of Thomas Thynne, was sister to 
Grufydd ab Ieuan, the subject of the 
present ode ; and aunt to sir Griffith 
Vychan, (line 41), knight, of Powys. 

The bard may have visited Gawres ; 



but whether Grufydd ab Ieuan lived 
there at the time, or was there on a 
visit with his sister, the lady of the 
house, it is useless to inquire. 

The Corbets, and after them the 
StafFords, were proprietors of the 
castle of Caus. The hundred of Caus 
or Cawres, extends into Montgomery- 
shire as far as Castle Caer Einion, 
&c. 

1. Crair Cawres, &c. Crair, a 
keepsake ; a relic : a gem ; a Mea- 
sure ; here, the heiress of Cawres. 
Grufydd ab Ieuan married Maud, 
sole daughter and heiress of Grufydd 
ab Rhys Vongam ; and, it is proba- 
ble, that this Maud was the Crair 
Cawres of the poem. 

Grufydd ab Rhys Vongam mar- 
ried an heiress, the fourth in descent 
from Gwenwynwyn of Pool castle, 
lord of Powys. She was the grand- 
mother of sir Griffith Vychan, of the 
last poem ; who, in consequence of 
this circumstance, might have spoken 
arrogantly, to some false friends, of 
his right to a portion of the lordship 
of Powys as having been given away 
wrongfully, by Edward II., to the 
Charltons; and their successors, the 
Greys. This being made known to 
Henry Grey, then lord Powys, might 
be an additional motive to the poli- 
tical one mentioned in the notes to 
the preceding poem, for the summary 
manner in which sir Griffith was 
executed. 



424 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Croes, Duw mawr ! Crist ymweryd, 

Cynnal bwys canol y byd. 4 

Y byd aeth, heb wad, weithian, 

Tanad Grufydd y tynwn ; 

Trwy weywyr t'rawai Ieuan, 

Tydi yn ol tad annelwn. 8 

Annelwn gerdd yn ol ein gwin 

Anwyl gwr yn ol y gan 

Anwylawd cair anneliad Cun, 

A'r Nudd Hael o'r neuadd hen. 12 

Hen a gwan a heini i gyd, 

Aeth, da goel, i'th dai gwelyd, 

Hen Gawres, achles i och'lyd tywydd, 

Tuedd pawb o'r hollvyd. 16 

Yr hollvyd ynyd anwes ar d'olud 

A phawb a gadwyd a phob gwiwdes ; 

Llaw Sampson gwirion egores pyrth aur; 

Llaw Duw a'i ddoniau *r lie dyddenes ! 20 

Llyryg Vair gadair a godes o'th gylch ; 

Llaw Duw oedd ogylch lie dyddigies ; 

Grufydd, i'th gaerydd a'th Gawres, Ieuan ! 

Grufydd dda anian groywfydd enwes. 24 

Madog ior haelwych mwy dwg i'r hoy wlys ; 

Molir ar gynnydd milwr o'r Gwenwys ; 

Myn glod o lawrodd mewn gwlad, ail Iorys ; 

Mewn y ddwy bawen myn y ddwy Bowys ; 28 

Maelawr Alo vawr lew, a'i vys troes hedd ; 

Myn i ti rinwedd mewn y tair ynys. 

Grufydd bendevig groywfydd, baun divas; 
Grufydd baun gwiwnerth, groywfydd ben Gwenwys ; 
Grufydd law Caron, groywfydd lew Cawres ; 
Grufydd lin Brochwel, groywfydd Ian breichus ; 

12. neuadd hen= neuadd Cawres; the head of one of the five plebeian 
the hall at Caws castle. tribes of Wales. 

29. Alo, a chieftain of Powys, being 



Y D0SPARTH VI 



425 



Grufydd ar gynnydd, ddeugeinoes, i'th wlad ; 
Grufydd daw tromgad, groywfydd ; dod trymgis. 

Maelgwn wyd, Rufydd ! mal Gwen, neu Drifwys ; 

Avarwy, Lawnslod, pan vu briodas ; 

O gydwydd rwyddlawn a gadwodd ryddlys ; 

Syr Gai ab Ivan sy a'r gwayw Bevus, 

Syr Grufydd, voch Nudd, vaich yn oes dy dad 

Sy ar ein dwywlad ; syr Aron dilys. 

Cerwch blaen tylwyth ; curwch blant Alis; 

Cur at hyder iawn, car y Tewdwr Rys ; 

Cor bybyr gwinwydd, car bawb o'r Gwenwys ; 

Canllaw glan Havren, cain Uwyn glyn hoywvrys, 

Cegidva yna enwes y'ch anian ; 

Cawr y Drevlydan car dorv o Wladus. 

Cynnull air milwr canwyllau'r Mel was ; 
Cobia bob caswr, a bradwr brydus ; 
Caead wyd, anwyl ; cywad waed Einws; 
Grufydd gyr fawydd, groywfydd gorfowys ; 
Crist enwog ar grog, a'r gris, cai'th ddilyn 
Croyw 'r aeth a gwerin crair yth Gawres. 



36 



40 



44 



48 



52 



34. Brochwel =Brochwel Ysgyth- 
rog, from whom Griffith, ab leuan 
was descended. 

36. trymgis (trwm-cis), a smart 
stroke. 

37. Maelgwn — Maelgwn Gwyn- 
edd. 

Gwen = Gwen ab Llywarch Hen. 

38. Avarwy, son of Lludd, also 
called Avarddwy Vras, the same who 
is called by Caesar, Mandubrasius . 

40. Bevus — sir Bevis of South- 
ampton. See " the History of Bown, 
son of earl Gwn of Hampton" in the 



Llyvyr Coch ; Avhich is a translation 
of the History, in ancient verse, of 
sir Bevis of Southampton, who lived, 
as the story says, about the time of 
king Edgar. 

42. Syr Aron— Syr Aron ab Ble- 
dri, knight of the Sepulchre. 

43. plant Alis, a name of reproach 
given to the English. 

48. y Drevlydan, a township in 
Cegidva. Griffith ab leuan, and his 
son after him, had the title of " lord 
of Burgerdyn, Trevlydan, Garth, and 
Gaervawr" [all in Cegidva]. 



Ff 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



III. 



I BEDO, O BENRHOS, YN MHLWYV PENEGOES, 
YN YMYL MACHYNLLAITH. 



Bedo is addressed as a person possessing a princely fortune ; and one also 
who was in the habit of giving sumptuous entertainments. 






Y teyrn a'r meddgyrn mawr, 
A'r trimeirch, a'r aur tramawr ; 
Bedo rhydd i'r byd y rhawg, 

Ac i vil o Gyveiliawg : 4 

Rhoed rhan Ieuan dan awyr, 

A chorf Davydd Goch iV ^yr ; 

Rhoed Hun Benwyn, mor vwyn vydd, 

A lliw Gwen a'i holl gynnydd. 8 

Yn Mhenrhos, lawer noswaith, 

Y bum i, a phawb o'm iaith ; 
Ni'm cai, na'm diwyd ria'm cas, 

Un dwy-wyl o Ian Dulas. 12 

Diluw caem, mewn adail cau, 
A ddyg Noe ddeugain niau. 
Ev a gyrchodd yn uvydd 

Y tir y deugeinved dydd ; 1 Q 
Minnau, ddeugain niau 'n ol 

Derwen Rhys a dry'n rasol : 

Deugeinved, yn nhai ITredur, 

Ym oedd Ddyw Pasc am dda pur. 20 



III. Addressed to Bedo, of Pen- flowing, under Penrhos, into the Do- 

rhos, in the parish of Penegoes, near vey. 

Machynllaith. 18. Derwen Rhys, that is, Bedo 

7- Benwyn, Gwen, and Ynyr, an- the son of Rhys. 

cestors of Bede. 19. B'redur = Peredur. (Dosp. I. 

12. Dulas, Dulas Cyveiliog, a river 8. 63.) 



Y DOSPAltTH VI. 427 

Ni'm gwelid yn ymlid 61 
O'i dai, eryr daiarol ! 

bai dda y bytheuad, 

Ac ar ol wyth o geirw y wlad ; 24 

Lawer hav drwy 61 y rhai'n 

Yr.a 'n ol yr un elain. 

Minnau o'r lie mae iawnol, 

Nid av i newidiaw 61 ; 28 

Ni chyrchav ddwr dros avon, 

Er bod rhyd i'r byd ar hon ; 

Myned i dai y Bedo 

A wnav 3 i vrig hyn o vro. 32 

Nid ai overddyn diwyl 

1 dy yn y Sir hyd nos wyl. 
Mis cyn yr wyl, ym Iesu ! 

Ydd awn at wr oedd yn y ty ; 36 

Ac ni ddown a Gwynedd iaith, 
Wedi 'r wyl o'i dai 'r eilwaith. 

Y dyn a el i wlad nev, 

Ni ddaw eilwaith dan ddolev. 40 

Ni ddaw yr haul o'r awyr 

Y dydd, hyd ddiwedydd hwyr. 
Draw dov i'w dy wr divalch, 

Ni ddov vyth o'i neuadd valch ; 44 

Mae yno 'n awr, myn y nos ! 

I mi anrheg yn Mhenrhos. 

Un arch a dai dwy ynys> 

Ugain rhodd gan eryr Rhys. 48 

Degarch wyl Gadvarch a gav, 

Naw gan serchawg nis archav ; 

Un ar ddeg i'm dwrn a ddaw, 

Deuddeg pe'i herchid iddaw. 52 

Deiniol a'i ceidw, a Dwynwen, 

Dy laith trev Vachynllaith wen. 

49. Gwyl Cadvarch, << Penegoes Abererch, Caernarvonshire. Festi- 

wakes." Cadvarch, son of Caradog val, 24th October. 

Vreichvras, was the patron saint of 54. Dylaith =dy lath ; mutation of 

the church of Penegoes ; and also of tylath, the rafter or support of a roof. 

Ff 2 



428 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Bual Cyveiliawg Bowys, 

Bwa Yw tyn y byd dwys ; 56 

Bron y drev ydyw evo, 

Braich y wlad 5 a'i bar a'i chlo ; 

Brenin egin Penegoes, 

Bid ar ei walk bedair oes, 60 



Y DOSPARTH VI. 429 

IV. 

CYWYDD ARALL I BEDO, O BENRHOS. 



Bedo is mentioned as the son of Rhys, and as being descended from 
Benwyn, Gwen, and Ynyr. He is said to have succeeded to his father's 
estates, which are described as being very extensive. 



Mi av i garni, ym oes ! 

I benaig o Benegoes ; 

Bid allu'r Bedo wellwell 

Ab Rhys, ni wn pa wr well. 4 

Eryr yw hwn a dry rhawg 

O vilwr gwlad Cy veiliawg ; 

Venwyn, addwyn i wyr, 

Ac o Wen, ac o Ynyr. 8 

Yn iawnrhan, ac yn anrheg, 

1 Rys y daeth Penrhos deg ; 
I'r Bedo oddiyno 'dd aeth 

Yr un tir, o'i naturiaeth. 12 

Mae 'n lied golud y Bedo, 

A'i glod ev no golud Io ; 

Mwy yw ei gyvoeth no'r mor, 

A deuvwy no da Ivor ; 16 

A deuvwy yn nglan Dyvi, 

O'i waith yw vy nghyvoeth i. 

Un esgud i'w dud ydwyv ; 

O'i dai a'i gylch diawg wyv. 20 

Trigaw, anturiaw 'r bwrdd tal, 

Yno 'dd wyv yn ddioval. 

O'm tyb, llyma ammod dwys ; 

Yma 'r ydwyv y'mharadwys. 24 

Ail vyddav drwy 'r hav y rhawg, 

Eli gynnil ac Enawg ; 

IV. Another poem addressed to 13. Mae 'n lied =ma,e yn lletach. 

Bedo, of Penrhos. 

FfS 



430 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

A daed eu bywyd ydyw, 

Hwynthwy byth a vyddant byw. 28 

Eu bywyd i gyd a gav, 

Yr un vodd aV rhai'n vyddav. 

Moesen vu varw o henaint 

Ni bu ar hwn wybr o haint. 32 

Iechyd a chyvoeth bydol 

I hwn a wnai hyny 'n ol. 

Mi a gevais i'm gyvoeth 

Mawr, a dysg y Cymmro doeth. 36 

A hyn i'm a lestair haint, 

A hyn a'm dwg i henaint. 

Llyma "n ddigri 1 i mi vy myd, 

Ac yn ddigrr i mi 'mywyd. 40 

Y Bedo, y vo a vyn 

Ganu dolev gan delyn ; 

Datgan cerdd i Ddianis, 

Yved y medd vo o oed mis ; 44 

Galw am ddyvod diodydd, 

Gwyliaw tan nes gweled dydd ; 

Cymmhell yn gadarn arnav 

Arian ac aur; hyn a gav. 48 

Ni bu heb gerdd, ac ni bydd, 

Ni bu rad hon gan brydydd ; 

Ni veiir yn ei vywyd 

Ni yr bw ar un o'r byd ; 52 

Ni'm gad byth heb Wyl Gadvarch, 

Ni bum heb ei lyn a'i barch ; 

Ni bydd, tra bo gwlydd a gwlith, 

Mwy undydd heb vy mendith ; 56 

Ni bu galed y Bedo, 

Na b'wyv, ond yr hyd y bo. 

43. Dianis — Dianys, the name of a daughter of Bedo. 



Y DOSPAETH VI. ' 431 

V. 

I OWAIN A GRUFYDD, MEIB IEUAN BLAENAU. 



In this poem are drawn the beautiful characters of two brothers living at 
unity together, and jointly endeavouring to render every possible service to 
promote the welfare of the district in which they resided. The bard says re- 
specting them, that " as eyes are essential to him who is set on the watch ; 
and feet to him that is about to run ; so equally essential to the protection 
and the well-being of Tre Gynon is the existence of Owain and Griffith." 
His admiration of their respective characters appears to be great ; for he says, 
that " he would go through fire and water, and surmount every obstacle, in 
order to visit them ; for their house is not only a house wherein to feast, 
but also a house where the song is heard, and the literature of our country 
introduced and cultivated." 



Yr eleirch val yr alaw, 

Gwynion o Drev Gynon draw ; 

Blaenion ar ddynjon ywV ddau 

O blanwydd Ieuan Blaenau ; 4 

Owain, vraisg ei wayw 'n ei vrig, 

A Grufydd hydd bonheddig ; 

Grufydd uvydd i'r ddevawd, 

Un vraint yw Owain ei vrawd ; 8 

Y ddeuwr val dwy dderwen 

Aelodau ynt i'r wlad wen. 

Ba ddyn, os wyneb a ddwg, 

Byw a wyl heb ei olwg ? 12 

Neu pwy ar ol, neu pa rai, 

Heb draed drwy 'r byd a redai ? 

Ba wlad heb ddau benadur 

A dalai ddimai o ddur ? 10 



V. Addressed to Owain and Grif- at an advanced age ; and left his 

fith, the sons of Ieuan Blaenau. whole estate to the viscount Tracy of 

The Blaneys of Gregynog, in the Toddington, in Gloucestershire, whose 

parish of Tre Gynon, in the hundred daughter and sole heiress married 

of Cedewain, Montgomeryshire, trace Charles Hanbury, esq., now C. H. 

their descent from Ieuan Blaenau. Tracey. Lord Blayney, of Monaghan, 

The last Blayney of Gregynog (Ar- in the county of Monaghan, Ireland, 

thur Blayney, esq.) died unmarried, is of the same stock. 

Ff 4 



482 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Deuwr gryv val dwy ir grwyn 

Yw 'r ddau baun o wraidd Benwyn ; 

Mi awn at ddeuwr o'm iaith 

Drwy 'r aweddwr, drwy'r oddaith ; 20 

Drwy 'r las men, drwy V maen mynor, 

Drwy dan maith, drwy ddnau mor. 

Tebyg, heb vod cenvigen, 

I saethydd wy v a. saeth wen ; 24 

Evo rhedeg a'i \wa 

Rhwng dau o nodau a wna ; 

Rhedeg, ac nis hir oedav, 

Rhwng deu-blas gwmpas a gav ; 28 

Mai y gwnai, pan dorai 'r don, 

Vor Udd ; ev a'i arwyddion 

A leinw eirw it Ian arall ; 

A phan dreiai llenwai 'r Hall. 32 

Minnau, o bydd grym ynov, 

O gylch dai y gweilch y do v. 

Dyn yn ymlid y wenol 

Wy v vi yr hav ar ei hoi ; 3(5 

A'm swydd ar led maes yw hyn, 

Wedi delwyv i'w dilyn : 

I'r tai draw rhodiaw i gael rhodd, 

O'r tai draw i'r tai drwyodd. 40 

Petwn hyn noV hen eryr, 

Hyn a gawn yn nhai y gwyr ; 

Can gwyn megys can Gwynedd, 

Cig, cwrw Amwythig, a medd ; 44 

Cerddau, gwybodau byd, 

Cov o wraidd cyvarwyddyd ; 

Clywed pob gair o deiriaith, 

Cly wed ym cloi dwy iaith ; 48 

28, deu-blas, " two mansions ;" his Cywydd to Owain Glyndwr, says, 

namely, Aberbechan, seat of Owain ; that Owain, when he lived at Sy- 

and Gregynog, seat of Griffith : about charth, used to have his ale from 

three miles distant from each other. Shrewsbury : his words are, 

44. cwrw Amwythig, « Shrewsbury D blaenf th cwrw A 

ale." That town, in former times, 3 , . 3 3 

was much commended for its excel- n . }^\ A , „ nJ ,,, . „• 

lent mode of brewing. Iolo Goch, in Gwiredydd, bragodydd bng. 



Y DOSPARTH VI. 433 

Gweled meirch megys gwylain, 

A'u gwyr hwynt yn gym rhai'n. 

Dau vroder, ryw amser, oedd 

A wnaeth Ruvain a^i threvoedd ; 52 

Llyma 'r ddau vroder eraill, 

Ar yr un Hun y bu'r llaill 

Deuwalch ynt yn Nghedewain 

Deuoed yr hydd doed i'r rhai'n. 56 



GWAITH 
LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

DOSPARTH VII. 






LLWYTHAU GWYNEDD, 



I. 



MARWNAD GRUFYDD AB ARON, O LANEGRYN. 



The bard wonders how the world could be so given to pride while it was 
continually reminded of death, which spared neither the wealthiest nor the 
best of men. He describes Griffith ab Aron as being once the life and soul 
of his country ; and that when he was buried the whole nation was, as it 
were, laid in the grave. The place of his burial he states to be at Llan 
Egryn. Griffith, it appears from the poem, was a powerful warrior, and a 
man of humane and excellent disposition. 



Mae 'n rhyvedd balchedd y byd, 
Mae drosto dalm o dristyd ; 



I. An elegy on Griffith ab Aron, 
of Llan Egryn. 

Griffith ab Aron was a lineal de- 
scendant of Ednowain ap Bradwen, 
chief of the 15th tribe of North 
Wales, and by some of the Welsh 
genealogists styled lord of Merioneth. 
Some remains of the Llys or man- 
sion of Ednowain are still to be seen 
not far from the lakes called Llyniau 
Cregennan in Merionethshire, and 
close to the small river of the same 
name. In the fourth year of Henry 
the Fifth, Griffith ap Aron obtained, 
as security for various sums advanced 
by him to different persons, a great 
extent of property in the vale of 



Towyn, (including the domain of 
Peniarth,) of which it is probable 
that the greater portion was never 
redeemed. In the 9th of Henry the 
Sixth, he also obtained a license from 
the king to appropriate to himself 
additional property in the same neigh- 
bourhood. That license is still in 
existence, and the following is a lite- 
ral copy of it : 

" Henricus dei gra' Rex AngP & 
ffranc' &^ Dn's Hib'n : Om'ib' ad 
quos p'sentes l're p'uenerint Sal'tm. 
Sciatis q'd nos p' finem viginti soli- 
dor' nob' p' Gruff' ap Aron fc'm, de- 
dim' & concessim' eidem Gruff', li- 
cenciam p'quirend' sibi & heredib' 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 

Un pendevig o Wynedd, 

Un baich yw hwnw yn y bedd ; 4 

Griifydd, ddedwydd drwy 'r ddeudir, 

Ah Aron oedd bren yw ir ; 

Doe 'r aeth (vy llygaid a red) 

Duw nev a mab Ednyved ! 8 

Wyneb Grufydd a guddiwyd 

A gro yn Llan Egryn llwyd ; 

Yno y Has dwy Wynedd, 

Yno bu wlad wen heb wledd ; 12 

Yno duodd ein daiar 

Wedi 'r un Duw ddri 'n dar. 

Marw yw holl Gymmru a'i hydd, 

Marw yw enaid Meirionydd ; 16 

Gorau enw gwr o Wynedd 

Enw Grufydd vaen muchudd medd ; 

Yno 'r oedd, Wener a Iau, 

Enw i Aron yn orau. 20 

Aron gynt rhoi win ac arch, 

Hebawg gwinvaeth ab Cynvarch ; 

Ev a elwid yn vilwr, 

Ev a wnai gynt vwy no gwr ; 24 

suis, quatuor mesuagia, viginti acras through the marriage of Elizabeth, 

t're arrabilis, quatuor acras prati, & sister and heiress of William David 

sex acras pasture, cump'tin', in Villa Lloyd, esq., about the reign of queen 

de Penny arth, deWenh" verghLleuq. Elizabeth, with Griffith, fourth son 

vergh Nest vergh Dauid ap Ith of Lewis Owen, esq. vice-chamber- 

Vych'n, lib'a tenent' ville p'd'ce. lain of North Wales, and M. P. for 



H'end' sibi & heredib' suis, eo te- Merionethshire, it passed into that 

nend' de nob' vt Principe Wall', & family. From the Owens it descend- 

heredib' n'ris Regib' Anglie & Prin- ed by marriage to another family of 

cipib' Wall', p' redditus & s'uicia inde the same name, of Morben in Mont- 

debita & consueta sine occ'one vel gomeryshire; and from them, through 

impedimento n'ri, vel heredum n'ror', the Williams's, a younger branch of 

Justic', Escaet', Vicecomit' aut alior' the house of Wynnstay, to the 

Balliuor' seu ministror' n'ror' quor' Wynnes, its present proprietors. Ed- 

cumq'. In cuius rei testimoniu' has neved, a brother of Griffith ap Aron, 

l'ras n'ras fieri fecim' patentes. Teste is said, to have assisted in concealing 

Humfro' Duce Gloucest'r Custode Owen Glyndwr during the reverses 

Angl' apud Caern' s'c'do die No- of that chieftain, in a cave on the sea- 

uembr' Anno regni n'ri nono shore in the parish of Celynin, still 

p' bill' signet' locu'ten' Justic' called Ogov Owain. 

North Wall signat' 10. Llan Egryn, a parish in the 

( V 7/' / ^ Cwmwd of Tal y Bont, Cantrev Meir- 

^ & ') i on? i n the county of Meirioneth. 

The Peniarth estate continued for Llan Egryn is situated upon the river 

many generations in the possession Dysyni, which empties itself into Car- 

of Griffith's lineal descendants, till digan bay below Ynys y Maengwyn. 



436 LEWIS GLYN COTHI, 

Aron yn ngwlad Veirion vu 

Hydd a gwr hawdd ei garu ; 

Milwr oedd ami ei ruddaur, 

Ac oen Duw oedd dan gnwd aur ; 28 

Grufydd gerddgar ab Aron, 

Oen Duw vu o hyn hyd Von. 

Saith rinwedd trugaredd gynt, 

Un wedd arno a oeddynt ; 32 

Rhoi gwely, a thy, a than, 

A bwyd oil rhag bod allan ; 

Ei bias oedd bob elusen 

I hael, i ieuanc, i hen ; 36 

Lie caid ymddivaid, bob ddau, 

Lie 'r ai wedd won holl raddau ; 

Cripliaid, gweiniaid deg ynys, 

Deunaw tlawd nid ant o'i lys. 40 

Yno cevais gan" cyvarch, 

Yno y bu i ni y barch ; 

Ni ddeuwn innau o'i neuadd, 

Ac yno yr aeth ugain radd. 44 

Ei dir a roi 'n vyd arab, 

Uthr valch, i Arthur ei vab ; 

Uthr Bendragon Meirionydd 

Ar ol hwn y w yr ail hydd ; 48 

A'i drevydd, a'i dir evo, 

I Rys ei vab a roes vo. 

Yna 'n ol y gwrda gynt 

Overwyr a gyveiriynt ; 52 

Ni rodia 'n wahanredol, 

Duw nev ! heb wrda 'n ei ol. 

Duw yn ol yn rheoli, 

Duw nev aeth a'n gwrda ni ; 56 

Duw 'n graf a wnaeth dwyn Grufydd, 

Duw a'i rhoes, benadur rhydd ! 

Duw gwyn a'i dyg o'i ynys, 

Duw y rhawg i adu Rhys. 60 

45. Ei dir, &c. In the following- a Gavel-kind division of the estate 

passages, Ei dir—i Arthur ei vab; among Arthur and Rhys, the sons of 

and after that, Ei drevydd, &c. i Rys Grufydd ab Aron. 
ei vab a roes vo, the bard speaks of 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 



43> 



II. 

I OVYN HULING GWELY I ELEN VERCH LLYWELYN, 
O LWYDIARTH, YN MON. 



The former part of the poem abounds with nattering compliments to Elen, 
alluding to her pedigree, and recounting her many excellent virtues. After 
this, the bard mentions the cruel and unjust treatment he received from the 
inhabitants of Chester, when they plundered him of his household-furniture : 
which is the cause of his present application to his patroness for a coverlet. 
The description which he gives of the coverlet he wanted is very curious and 
interesting. 



Aur Angharad law arian, 
A'i gwin gynt a gai hen gwan ; 
Can rwydded y cawn roddion 
Elin, verch la wen o Von. 

Hi ydyw 'r lili ar lawnt, 
Haul Lywelyn hael dlawnt ; 
Corf planed Prysaddved y w, 
Caneidwen Hwlcyn ydyw : 
Hon yw Non o hen Ynyr, 
Non o gyf Nannau a'i gwyr ; 



II. Addressed to Elen, daughter of 
Llywelyn, of Llwydiarth in Angle- 
sey, soliciting of her to present the 
bard with a coverlet. 

Elen was the only daughter of 
Llywelyn ab Hwlcyn of Prysaddved 
in Anglesey. She was thrice mar- 
ried.. Her first husband was John 
son of Madog Puleston ; her second, 
Gwilym ab Davydd, of Llwydiarth, 
father to Davydd ab Gwilym, the 
subject of the elegy, Dosp. VII. 3 ; 
and her third husband was Cynvrig 
ab Davydd ab Ithel Vychan, of Engle- 
field in Flintshire. He is the Cynvrig 
mentioned in this poem, and was per- 
Ynyr i 

I 
Ynyr Vychan 



haps, when it was composed, residing 
with his lady Elen at Llwydiarth, 
which she might be in possession of 
as her jointure. 

5. llawnt, a lawn : lie isel ; gwas- 
tadedd. 

7. Prysaddved, seat of Hwva ab 
Cynddelw, one of the fifteen tribes. 

8. Hvjlcyn, Llywelyn's father. 
Llywelyn ab Hwlcyn was an ances- 
tor of the Lewis's of Prysaddved. 
See Pedigree (Dosp. VII. 4). Hwlcyn, 
diminutive of Hywel. 

9. Ynyr, Ynyr of Nannau, ances- 
tor of the Nanneys, and the present 
Vaughans of Nannau. 



Meirig Llwyd 



Meirig Llwyd Vychan 
Hywel Sele, = 



Mahallt (line 55) merch Hywel Selau. 



438 LEWIS GLY.N COTHI. 

O vrig Meirig tir Meirion, 

O ddail mawr Cynddelw Mon. 12 

Sant Catrin a'm frwyth gwinwydd, 

Elin verch Lly welyn vydd ; 

Ac yn olew, gan Elin, 

Y mae iV roi bumryw win. 16 

CTi Haw y rhydd Tr 11 u rhawg 

Lan wledd Elen Lueddawg ; 

Bendith Dervel i Elin, 

Brig bonedd Gwynedd y gwin. 20 

Ei chlod, y verch o Lwydiarth, 

Sy o'i bro dros Aber Arth 

Gormod, myn Eglwys Garmon ! 

I'm oes vu vawrvoes ar Von. 24 

Aed vy nghwyn at haul Wynedd ; 

Cwyn a wnav rhag cwn un wedd, 

Rhag falsed, rhag oered oedd 

Gaer Lleon Gawr, a'i lluoedd ; 28 

A hon a 'speiliodd vy nhy, 

O'm hug alawnt a'ra gwely ; 

Ac yn noethach ym gwnaethant 

No'r gleisiad yn noviad nant. 32 

0, Vair o'r ias ! heb vawr wrid, 

Mae naw carl i'm un cwrlid. 

Mae Elin imi eilwaith, 

O'i Haw 'n vrau, yn rhoi lien vraith ; 36 

Tapin o ddail y gwinwydd, 

Torsed gogyvled aV gwydd : 

12. Cynddelw Mon, the bard adds Britain of men, that the Gwyddetian 

the cognomen Mon, and Cynddelw, Picts were tempted to molest it with 

to Cynvrig, Elen's husband, by way continual depredations, which induced 

of eminence. VortJgern to call in the aid of the 

18. Elen Lueddawg, Elen with the Saxons. Camb. Biog. 

mighty host, daughter of Eudav, a 22. A ber Arth, a parish and church 

celebrated woman, who with her bro- in Cardiganshire, situated at the en- 

ther Cynan Meiriadog, as the Triads trance of the brook Arth into the bay 

record, raised an army of 60,000, of Cardigan. 

which was denominated one of the 24. Pm oes vu, &c. " the extreme 

three emigi-ating hosts, on account of liberality of its inhabitants to me, all 

its going with Maximus to Anno- my life, has been superabundant." 

rica, about A. D. 383. The depar- 37. Tapin (Lat. tapetum), tapes- 

ture of such a force so drained South try. 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 439 

Y mae 'n y lien i'ra naw lliw, 

Naw edn ar vrethyn ydyw ; 40 

Naw o geirw yn eu gorwedd, 

Ac a naw ewig un wedd ; 

Deuddeg o ddail medleilas, 

A deg o liw du a glas ; 44 

Yr oedd gant o wyrdd a gwyn, 

Yr oedd mil rudd a melyn ; 

Delwau man gwaith dwylaw merch, 

Derw a llun adar llanerch ; 48 

Wybren a gudd dalcen dyn, 

Awyr brith wyrdd yw'r brethyn. 

Ni ad y rhodd hyd yr hav, 

Nag oernos, nag ia arnav ; 52 

Elin i'm ar wely noeth 

A rydd baner werdd beunoeth. 

Mahallt, merch Hywel Selau, 

Am air i hon a'i mawrhau; 56 

A roes huling, er's helynt, 

Gwely, am gerdd Gwilym gynt. 

V'arlwyddes, veistres o Von, 

A ry arall yr awr'on. o'O 

Dov at Gynvrig ab Davydd, 

Y tir ydd av, at wawr ddydd ; 
Hawdd gyda'm gwahawdd Tm gael 

Ei threth a bath, wyr Ithael ! 64 

A gwledd gan Gynvrig o'i law, 

A da Elin o'i dwylaw ; 

Del Hen dros vy ngobenydd, 

Del rhad i'r dwylaw a'i rhydd ; 68 

Del i Gynvrig ac Elin 

Dair oes i roi deuryw win. 

43. medleilas [medley, Eng. and glas, Welsh] , that which is of a bluish 
mixture. 






440 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



III. 



MARWNAD DAVYDD AB GWILYM, O LWYDIARTH, 

YN MON. 



The bard contrasts the present melancholy scene at Llwydiarth with its 
former festive gaiety ; condoles with Eve, David ab Gwilym's widow, on her 
irreparable loss ; foretells the future greatness of her children ; dwells upon 
the character of their deceased father; and concludes by stating that his death 
was greatly and universally lamented. 



Nid wyv drallawen ddwyn Davydd golovn, 
Ab Gwilym ab Davydd ; 
Nid oedd ym wedi ei ddydd, 
Na lie i win ; na llawenydd. 



III. An elegy upon Davydd ab Gwilym, of Llwydiarth Anglesey. 
Gwilym ab Davydd ab Ieuan ab Hywel,=Elen verch Lly welyn, (Dosp.VII. 
o Lwydiarth yn Mon. 2.), sister to Huw Lewys, 

(Dosp. VII. 4.). 



Davydd ab Gwilym ab Davydd, ■■ 
the subject of this elegy. 



Rhys = 



Eva, verch Rhys ab Maredydd, of Ys- 
pytty, Ieuan. Rhys ab Maredydd was 
standard-bearer to the earl of Rich- 
mond at the battle of Bosworth in 
1485. Eva, having survived her first 
husband, married Maredydd ab Tho- 
mas ab Maredydd of Porthamyl, who, 
according to our manuscript, had been 
sheriff of Anglesey ; but in the printed 
list the sheriffs for A. D. 1542, 1544, 
1569, 1598, 1602, 1639, 1672, were 
Bulkeleys of Porthamyl. It is there- 
fore presumed that a Bulkeley married 
the heiress of the above Maredydd ab 
Thomas ab Maredydd. 



Sheriff of 



Davydd ab Rhys ab Davydd ab Gwilym, of Llwydiarth, 
Anglesey for the year 1567. 

The grandfather of Davydd ab Gwilym, the subject of this ode, was Davydd 
ab Ieuan ab Hywel, of Llwydiarth, esq., killed in an affray, called " y Frae 
Ddu yn y Bewmares" between the king's garrison in the castle and the 
country people, on a market-dav at Beaumaris. See LlwycVs Beaumaris Bay, 
p. 19. 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 441 

Llawenydd ryw ddydd ydd oedd yn Llwydiarth, 

A gwin, llydan voroedd ; 

Llwydiarth gorau lie ydoedd, 

Lie ieirll o waed ; lie 'r llu oedd. 8 

Mawr oedd llev lluoedd yn Lliwon am wr, 

Mwy yn Nhalebolion ; 

Mawr vuV gweiddi 'Nghaerllion, 

Mwy am wr yma ym Mon. 12 

Wylaw 'n Mon avon yn uvydd y mae 

Merch Rhys ab MVedydd ; 

Am Eva val mam Ddavydd, 

Mae gwn du amgen no dydd. 16- 

Dydd da i Eva, ddiwarth ei gwleddau, 

Mai arglwyddes Sycharth ; 

Del o'i phlant, bumcant Tr barth, 

Ddyledawg dda o Lwydiarth. 20 

Ai llai Llwydiarth, a'i thai, a'i thywys, 

No thai Banbri ; neu ^vy th o Benbrys ? 

Ai llai 'vudd Ddavydd lie 'dd ys nog Edlym ? 

Ai llai vai Wilym no Llevelys ? 24 

Ev a ei egin yn wyr, vegys 

Egin y derw ar goed gwan dyrys ; 

Ei veibion o Von dan vys y Drindod, 

A gair i gym mod Gvvyr ac Emys. 28 

Ev a roi ei win i bawb ar vrys, 

A'i arian a'i gan i ddeg ynys ; 

Ym eilwaith gyda 'i win melys, wrth raid ; 

Y gwnaid mel cwyraid mal Licorys. 32 



9. Lliwon or Llivon, and Talebo- written Tal-ebolion, and an incident 

lion, two comots in Anglesey. There is mentioned to account for it. 

is a curious account in Mabinogi 15. mam Ddavydd, Elen verch 

Bronwen of the origin of the name Llywelyn of the foregoing poem. 

Talebolion. It is there said to sig- 22. Penbrys, Pembridge, in Here- 

nify "the payment of colts," as if fordshire. 

Gg 






442 LEWIS GLYN COTHI, 

Vo garai trywlwv, a gair Troilus, 

AV un reolaeth a'r hen ruwlys; 

Vo gad yn wastad yn un Ustus ; cad 

Yx wlad val y cad Nembroth ab Cus. 36 

Bu wr val Hector , neu saint Morus ; 

Bu, a naw o Roeg, vab un wregys ; 

Bu alawnt a gwych, val Welys neu Franc, 

Bu glew a ieuanc val mab Glywys. 40 

Angau a dwyoch ing a dywys 

IV rhai a ganodd ir rhagynys ; 

Och ym ! ond arnav y mae chwys angau, 

Am ddwyn y gorau, medd Hen Gyrys. 44 

Ei enaid a el i'r man dilys, 

Y mae yr Iesu heb ddim mor rasus ; 
Oes oesoedd galvver Iesus, ac Elien, 

Yn ei gor ; Amen ! ac Orymys I -\8 

Adail sy unsail, medd llyvr Genesis, 

Y byd yn ynvyd ar lun envys ; 
Onid adail arail synvvyrys arddail ; 

Ond adail ar sail Quies yn selys! 52 

Duodd ei vroydd, doe oedd vry wus ; 

Du Arvon oil, darvu "n ewyllys ; 

Du Von ddi wystlon, ystlys Caer Gybi, 

Du o vdr Enlli yw hyd Vrwynllys. 56 

Truan, rhag gadarn Castell Gwdrys, 
Tori calon Mon a'i gair am wys; 



33. trywlwv =true love. founder of a church at Coed Cernyw 

36. Nembroth ab Cus, Nimrod the in Gwynllwg, Monmouthshire. 

son of Cush. Gen. x. 8. 42. rhagynys, sev Mon un o rag- 

39. Welys = sir William Wallis or ynysoedd ynys Pydain. 
Wallace, the celehrated Scotch patriot 48. Orymys=Ora, pro nobis, 
and warrior in the reign of Edward I. 52. Quies yn selys = Quies in coelis. 

Franc =■ Frolo Franc. 56. Brwynllys = Castell Brwynllys, 

40. Glywys = Gly wis Cernyw, the now in ruins, near Savaddon lake, 
son of Gwynlliw ab Glywis ab Tegid, Brecknockshire. 

the brother of Catwg. He was the 57. Castell Gwdrys, Goodrich Cas- 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 



443 



Truan, y dan van o Venis Gogledd, 

Taraw o Wynedd dan Saturnus. 60 

Och ! dristed clywed cainc Huw Lewys 

Am ei nai, waed ieirll Mon a Derllys ; 

Och, draw ! am ganllaw gwenllys Aberfro ; 

Och, Dduw ! vod amdo o'r gro yn grys. 04 

Och, Wen o Dalgarth ! am Lwydiarth lys ; 

Och ! vethu Cymmru oedd bare Emrys ; 

Och, Garon ! vwrw Mon Vam Ynys ddysglair 

Och, Vair ! vwrw ei chrair Eva verch Rhys. 68 

Duw ! evo, am ddwyn Davydd, 

A a dros hon deiroes hydd ; 

Ac i'w meibion, o'r bonedd, 

Del nawoes er dal y neuadd. 72 

I'w neuaddau newyddion 

Av eto adrev atyn 1 ; 

Yno gynt ar gan a gwin 

Mai eaws v bum lawen. 76 



tie, now in ruins, on the banks of 
the Wye, Herefordshire. About a 
quarter of a mile distant, upon an 
eminence overhanging the Wye, is 
situated Goodrich Court, the splendid 
seat of Sir Samuel Rush Mey- 
rick, K. H. See an account of it in 
the Appendix to Fosbroke's Wye 
Tour. 



60. dan Saturnus, this 
may allude to Davydd ab Gwilym 
having died on a Saturday. 

61. Huw Lewys, (Dosp. VII. 4.). 

62. Derllys, (Dosp. I. 37- 2.). 

71. Ac Vw meibion, &c. " May her 
sons live long to support, or main- 
tain, the former hospitality of neuadd 
Llwydiarth." 



Gg 



444 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



IV. 



MAWL I HUW LEWIS, O BRYSADDVED YN MON 
A MARWNAD SIONED BWLCLAI EI WRAIG. 



The bard, in the first place, addresses Hugh Lewis as being well known 
and celebrated throughout the isle of Anglesey for the excellent table he kept ; 
and, in the next place, he laments the death of Jonet, Hugh Lewis's wife, 
whose presence at the festive board used to conduce greatly to the general 
comfort and happiness of the parties present. The poem is then taken up in 
commemorating the good qualities of the deceased, and the general lament 
which her death caused. 



Mae enw mawr am win a medd 

I ddynion y ddwy Wynedd ; 

Oes a gair mwy, 'mysg gwyr Mori, 

I Huw Lewis o Liwon ; 4 

Ysgwier vegys Gawen, 

A'i gaer, a'i gwrt, yn graig wen ; 

Prysaddved yn Modedyrn, 

Plasau a chorf Powls, a'i chyrn ; 8 

Teml gwin gwyn wyr Hwlcyn haei, 

Teml Nas'reth, ty ""mlaen Israel ; 

Eangwen yn neupen erw, 

Wyr Gynddelw o'r egindderw. 12 

Rhyw ddydd, o'r fair ddyoddev ? 

Yr oedd gwreigdda gydag ev ; 

Un Duw o'r nev yn dor nawdd 5 

Ie 'sgwir, a'u hysgarawdd ; 16 



IV. Addressed to Hugh Lewis, of one of the fifteen tribes of North 

Prysaddved in Anglesey, lamenting Wales ; from whom were descended, 

the death of Jonet Bulkeley his wife. besides the Lewises of Prysaddved, 

Prysaddved is still a fine ancient the Owens of Clennenau ; Bod Silyn; 

family mansion, situated in the pa- Porkington, and Penrhos. We give 

rish of Bod Edeyrn, in the comot of on the opposite page, the pedigree of 

Llivon, (now called the hundred of Hugh Lewis as a corroborative proof 

Llivon), about eight miles east of of the bard's proficiency in his pro- 

Holyhead. It was once the residence fession as a herald, 
of Hwva ab Cynddelw, founder of 8. Powls, the bards frequently 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 445 

Gwahanwyd hwynt, ac un tu, 

Gwae 'hynys o'u gwahanu ; 

Tost na bu 'n cusanu saint 

Huw a Sioned nes henaint ; 20 

Hi aeth Tr nev, drev ddi dro, 

Huw ei hunan sy heno. 

Duw yn y byd, nid o'n bodd, 

I'll tir isod a'n treisiodd ; 24 

Ban ddyg Sioned, cyn Medi, 

Bivlclai heb ei heilcael hi. 

Llwyth Mon. 

Hova pater Monae Cinthelei filius effert 
Tres flexu fulvos rapidosq. cruore Leones. 

Vet. MS. 

" Hwva ab Cynddelw, temp. Owain Gwynedd, circa 1150." 



Methusalem 

I 
Maredydd 

Ierwerth 

I 
Grufydd 

Grufydd Vychan 



Ierwerth 

Ierwerth Ddu 

I 
Hywel 

I 
Hwlcyn, of Prysaddved 

Llywelyn ab Hwlcyn 



Elen verch Llywelyn = Gwilym ab Davydd, 
(Dosp. VII. 2.) I of Llwydiarth. 

Huw Lewis = Sioned Bwlclai Davydd ab Gwilym. 
| (Dosp. VII. 3.) 

" Sion Lewis sy'n lew ieuanc" (line 58). 

Hugh Lewis 

William Lewis, esq., sheriff for the county of Anglesey in 1549-1558. 

John Lewis, esq., sheriff for ditto in 1566. 

William Lewis, of Prysaddved, esq. sheriff for ditto in 1572. 

John Lewis, esq., sheriff for ditto in 1606-1618. 

John Owen, of Prysaddved, esq. sheriff in 1725. 

John Bulkeley, of Prysaddved, esq. sheriff in 1795, knighted. 

compared gentlemen's mansions to 16. , sgwir=ysgwir; hence sicr. 

Fowls; namely, the old St. Paul's, 22. Huw, &c. = Huw sy heno ei 

London, before the conflagration of hunan. 
1666. 

GgS 



446 LEWIS GLYN COTHT. 

Mae bob hav, val mab heb ben, 

Mon yn weddw am winwydden ; 28 

Nid oes un wedi Sioned, 
Eithr a'r Haw aruthr ar lied ; 
Curaw dwylaw rhag dolur, 

A chriaw cwyn ; och ! o'r cur ; 32 

Lliw ydyw gwyllt, du, a gwar; 
Lie duodd yr holl daiar. 
Lliwon a aeth oil yn nos, 

A dwy Wynedd yw dunos ; 36 

Diluw hyd heddyw vu hyn. 
Dydd brawd heddyw i Brydyn ; 
Yn lyn crwn, i lenwi Cred, 

Dos Wynedd wedi Sioned. 40 

Mon na chwardd mwy, na cherddwr, 
Mwy no dyn y mewn y dwr ; 
Lie mae 'r wawr, lliw Mair wirion, 
Yn wir y mae hanner Mon. A A 

Duw y sy 'n dewis Sioned 
Bwlclai i groesdai holl Gred ; 
At Duw a'r saint y troes hi, 

Ac i aberth Caergybi. 48 

Ac ar ol, val brig ar wydd, 
Y cawn ieuainc o newydd ; 
Eto ei phlaid hi a'i phlant, 

Yn ei hoi, Wen ! a hiliant ; 52 

Duw a wnel, lie daw i'n win, 
O'u rhywogaeth rhoi egin. 
Rhyvedd o ddau vonheddig 

Oedd vod Prysaddved heb brig; 56 

O'u tir y bydd, tu a'r banc, 
Sion Lewis yn lew ieuanc. 
Yn dwyn lir, dan elorwydd, 

Huw Lewis am haul y sydd ; 6"0 

Ar Gybi 'dd wy "n gweddiaw, 
Es enyd, tros Sioned draw ; 
Ac ar Dduw, ac ar Ddewi, 

Arail Huw ar ei hoi hi. 6*4 

59. lir, liveiy ; here a mourning dress. 64. Arail=i arail. 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 447 



V. 



I OWAIN VYCHAN AB GRUFYDD AB IEUAN LLWYD, 
O LAN BRYN MAIR. 



Owain is addressed as a prince of the province of Cyveiliog, and the gene- 
rous friend of the hards. He is mentioned as being a skilful musician, and 
one who was ever delighted to hear the dulcimer and the harp. He is more- 
over spoken of as being an accomplished gentleman, and one well versed in. 
the laws and customs of his country. 



Huail cwmmwd Cyveiliawg, 

Hyn vo no dyn hyd Lan Da wg ; 

Owain Vychan vy iechyd, 

A chrair Bryn Mair yw vy myd. 4 

Eryr Grufydd a garwyd, 

Unllaw aur o Ieuan Llwyd ; 

Addav o geirvv Mathavarn, 

Edwyn a vo da 'n ei varn ; 8 

Dinam ydyw o Wenwys, 

A da y byd yw ei bwys. 

Nid rhyvedd er ein travael, 

Enwi hwn yn Owain hael ; *2 

Y cerddwyr, a'r benceirddiaeth ? 
Fr haelion vydd meibion maeth. 
Pa un a'n mag heb anair ? 

Ivor a'n mag o Vryn Mair. Id 

Llawer dwsmel a thelyn, 

A llawer brwysg gar Haw 'r Bryn. 

Iago Sant ! enwawg y sydd, 

Lie hwn yw bryn llawenydd. 20 

Obry un modd yw Bryn Mair, 

Y Bryngwyn biau 'r un-gair : 
Owain Vychan i gannyn 

A barai aur ar y Bryn ; 24 

V. Addressed to Owain Vychan Laugharne. 

ah Grufydd ab Ieuan Llwyd, of Llan 9. Gwenwys^ descendant of Broch- 

Bryn Mair, Montgomeryshire. wel Ysgythrog, from whom many fa- 

2. Llan Dawg, a parish in Caer- milies trace their descent. 



marthenshire, about one mile from 



Gg4 



448 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Ni estwng hwn o'i ystyr 

Er un balch, er neb o'i wyr : 

Mi a wn swrn, myn y saint ! 

IV un gwr hwn yn geraint ; 28 

Brawd yw 'n medru tynu 'r tant 

I gywirdeb aH g'weirdant; 

Cleddau 'r devodau ydyw, 

Cevnder i'r cyviawnder y w ; 32 

Ei vam yw swydd bob blwyddyn, 

Ei dad yw bendith pob dyn ; 

Ei verch ev yw 'r dangnevedd, 

Ei vab yw rhoi gwin neu vedd ; 36 

O'r Llyvr Ach hen oedd genym, 

Ewythr yw Tr gyvraith rym. 

Hwynthwy ar balmant heol 

A dery "n wych draw 'n ei ol. 40 

A chledd y lladd gamweddoedd ; 

Anghyvraith, un artaith oedd. 

Ar gelwydd y gyr gilio, 

Ac ar y fals y gyr fo ; 44 

Y dyn a wnel twyll heb dal, 
E ddaw Owain iV ddial. 
Mi a wn dalm o enwau, 

Enwi ydd wyv un neu ddau ; 48 

Nid gnawd cael gwr hael o'r rhai'n, 

Na dewr onid o Owain ; 

Dewr oedd Owain drwy 'r ddaiar 

Ab Urien gynt a'r Brain gwar ; 52 

Owain y Glyn vu un glod, 

Owain Vychan vu uchod ; 

Os Duw a roes dri o wyr, 

Y tri Owain yw 'r try wyr. 56 
Duw iddo a wnaeth deuddyn, 

Dechreu byd hevyd yw hyn ; 
Dwyoes ev a'i rhoes i'r rhai'n, 
A dwyoes rhoed i Owain. do 

49. Ni gnawd -=s nid natnriawl. 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 



449 



VI. 



I DAVYDD LLWYD AB LLYWELYN AB GRUFYDD, O VATH- 
AVARN, PAN SYRTHIODD ODDIAR EI VARCH. 



Davydd Llwyd, the subject of this poem, had a dislocated shoulder by 
a fall from his horse ; and our bard offers him some consolations under his 
affliction. 



Y gwr byth a gar roi barn, 
A'i vath ev o Vathavarn ; 
Davydd) gweydd brig awen, 
Wyd vy hydd Haw Eudav hen, 
Ab Llywelyn, o'r hyn hwnt, 
Ab Grufydd wyneb Grifwnt; 



VI. Addressed to Davydd Llwyd 
ab Llywelyn ab Grufydd Vychan, of 
Mathavarn, after he had fallen from 
his horse. 

Mathavarn is in the parish of 
Llanwrin in Cyveiliog. 

Davydd Llwyd was a voluminous 
writer as a poet ; and, above that, as 
a prophet. He was a Bardd and. a 
Brudiwr; and his brudiau, or enig- 
matical predictions, ai-e numerous. 
These amused, but could not en- 
lighten his countrymen. The earl 
of Richmond, on his way from Mil- 
ford towards Shrewsbury, to contest 
for the crown which was tottering 
on Richard Ill's, head, thought it 
worth his while to call at Matha- 
varn, and consult this pupil of 
Merddin as to the success of his ad- 
venture, and at once proposed the 
question to his seer. The answer 
was not ready; he hesitated, and pro- 
mised a reply by the following morn- 
ing. Finding his craft failing him, 
he grew visibly dejected. His wife 
having observed such a sudden change 
in her husband's countenance inquir- 
ed, after the earl had retired to rest, 
the reason. He told her the dilemma 



he was in ; upon which she exclaim- 
ed : — " What ! you a bard, — a pro- 
phet, — a sage ! Can you hesitate 
what answer to return to the ques- 
tion ? Tell him confidently that he 
will succeed to the throne ; and if 
that proves true, your character is 
established : if not, you need not 
fear that he will return here to re- 
proach you for being a false prophet." 
This satisfied the seer ; and no less 
so the earl, when they held a con- 
sultation at the dawn of the follow- 
ing morning. This adventure gave 
rise to the proverb, (still recollected 
by the peasantry), Cyngkor gwraig 
heb ei ovyn, that is, " A wife's ad- 
vice, without being asked for it," is 
always auspicious. 

Davydd Llwyd was possessed of a 
considerable estate on both sides the 
Dyvi above Machynllaith. Many of 
his poems are interesting. His lament 
after the death of sir Grufydd Vychan, 
is noticed in this collection (Dosp. 
VI. 1). His description of Rhaglan 
castle, in Monmouthshire, as he saw 
it, when on a visit there with Wil- 
liam, the first Herbert earl of Pem- 
broke, is curious. 



450 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Delw Bawl yw a dal ei bwys, 

Daniel brophwyd o Wen wys: 8 

Ai gwir nodi 'r penadur, 

A'i vraich ev, o vriw a cbur? 

Os gwir, gerddwr Llan Gwrin, 

Ev aeth yn gaeth yved gwin. 12 

Ev a wylodd Cyveiliog 

Y geirw gwyn am gar y Gog ; 
Minnau wylav am Ddavydd, 

A wylwyv vi eli vydd. 16 

Cwympodd march buan dano, 
A 1 ! varch a'i cwympodd e vo. 

Y lie cwympodd Davydd Llwyd, 

Naw camp yno y cwympwyd ; 20 

Minnau a wylais, myn Elen ! 

Yno o blu na b'ai len, 

A lien o sidan dano, 

A'r un vath arnaw e vo ; 24 

Mai na ch'ai ev bendevig, 

Na chur na dolur na dig\ 

Arthur o'i ddolur oedd wan, 

Ac o ymladd cad Gamlan ; 28 

Velly 'h Ynys avallach 

Y vo a aeth yn vyw iach ; 
Cawn o veddygon hono, 

Yn vy oes pes cawn e vo ; 32 

Dygvvn nis ceisiwn mewn cudd 

Drwy Ddyvi draw i Ddavydd. 

Gyred angel ac Eli. 

Gwialen Moesen i mi ; 36 

A'r wialen wrolav 



8. Gwenwys, the Mathavarn fa- what would happen to the land of his 

mily were not descended from Gwen- birth." 

wys in the male line; but might be 21. Elen, the daughter of Coel 

on the female side by intermarriages. Godebog, the wife of Constantius, 

13. Ev a wylodd, &c. " Cyveiliog and the mother of Constantine the 

wept, as it were, foaming cataracts, Great, celebrated for finding the cross 

when it heard of the disaster that of Christ. She lived about the close 

had befallen its poet ; who, continu- of the third century. Camb.Biog. 
ally, like the cuckoo's note, prophesied 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 451 

Gyru 'n iach y gwr a wnav. 

Eli vydd a weddiwyv, 

A throsto gweddio ydd wyv ; 40 

A Iesu wyn yn ei swydd 

A $ni asgwrn ei ysgwydd. 

Ei gnawd gwnaed raeddyg yn iach, 

Y dwrn a a 'n gadarnach. 44 

Un tro a wnaeth briwo braich, 

Un enbyd yw yn unbraich. 

Un a thri a weddiav 

Un weddi gan Dduw a gav. 48 

Un trist vyddav yr hav rhydd 

Yni dyvo hwn Davydd. 



452 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



VII. 



I LEWIS AB MAREDYDD AB IEUAN VYCHAN, 
O LAN WRIN. 



Lewis ab Maredydd is, in this poem, represented as a generous, wealthy, 
and an influential person ; an esquire of the body guard to Henry VI., and 
a warrior. 



Elfin Llan Wrin y\v Nudd i lawer, 

Lewis ab Maredydd ; 

Aed yr aur ar ei ddeurudd, 

Iesu a ro oes iV rudd. 4 

Deurudd Maredydd yn Mhrydain a^i law 

Lewis sy 'n eu harwain ; 

A vu well Pab no 'r mab main ? 

A vu ddim vwyvwy ei ddamwain ? 8 

Damwain Rhicert ab Einion 
Ar Lewis yw awr lawen ; 

Y Hew a gad mewn lliw gwyn, 

Lliw Rhys a wellaa ar hwn ; 12 

Y lliw sydd ar yr arian 
Oil yn aur yn Llan Wrin. 

VII. Addressed to Lewis ab Maredydd ab Ieuan Vychan, of Llan Wrin. 
= Rhys Grethin, o Vuallt, yn Mrycheiniog. 



J 
Sir Richard Gethin, marchog 

urddawl a laddwyd tra yn 

gwarchae ar Roan yn Frainc. 

See note (line 28) to this 

poem. 

Maredydd ab Ieuan Vychan = .... merch Rhys Gethin. 

Lewis ab Maredydd Rhys ab Maredydd. 

1. Elfin, a complimentary epithet, an account of Elfin son of Gwyddno, 
See, in Rees's Welsh Saints, p. 236, a saint in the college of Illtyd. 



y DOSPARTH VII. 453 

Gwis o Lanwrin gael gosog i wyr, 

I Arwystl a Chyveiliog; 16 

O Vechain i Vrycheiniog 

A gilia oil dan ei glog. 

Ei glog, val rhyw varchog, vydd 

Yn aur, a'i wn yn un radd ; 20 

Ar lyvr dwned Maredydd 

Wedi Visgo y dysgodd. 

Dysgu da y bu, a rhoi budd a lies, 

Ni bu nes neb i Nudd ; 24 

Dysged wrth vab Maredydd 

Gwyr ei wlad a threv Gaer Ludd. 

Troi ynghylcb Caer Ludd rhag bod trin a wnai 
Nai Syr Rhisiart Gethin ; 28 

Taro wrtho, myn Marthin ! 
Yw treio 'r haul trwy yr hin. 

Mae ei dda val yr hindda i'n rhan, 

Mae ei aur ev gar vy mron ; 32 

Mihangel a wna 'n velyn 

Yma euraw vy Marwn. 

Barwn yw ei ewythr ar Baris a Rhon, 

Ac ar hwnw Flwr de lis; 36 

Val ei ewythr vo Lewis 

A roes ym aur er ys mis. 

Mis Rhagfyr i wyr ev a roddai win. 

Mis Hydrev y caem osai o wydrin ; 40 

Chwevrawr a lonawr, megys i Gynin, 

Fr Breyr arav yr wy" bererin ; 



15. Gwis—gwyddh, from gwybod, eventually fell at one of the sieges of 

to know. Roan in Normandy. 

28. Syr Rhisiart Gethin, sir Ri- 29. Marthin, there are two canoni- 

chard Gethin, knight, was an officer cal saints of this name : viz. St. Mar- 

of note in the French wars under the tin, Bishop of Tours; and St. Martin, 

Henry's Vth and Vlth. Sir Richard Pope and Martyr. 



454 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Mis Awst gydag ev y mae sin i'r byd, 

A Mis Mai hevyd ; a mis Mehevin. 44 

I Harri Chweched tramwyed bob trin 

Ysgwier ydyw a rwysg gwyr Edwin ; 

Ar hwn y dysgwyl lie mae rhai'n disgyn, 

A'i ystor ariant a'i lestri eurin ; 48 

A'i addoli a wnav a'i ddilyn rhagllaw, 

A dysgwyl arnaw a gwallaw y gvvin. 

Un avael yw ev a'i gynnevin, 

Un rwysg a^i ewythr, ac un oresgyn ; 52 

Rhwng Lewys a Rhys y bu ddwylan rhin, 

Ac yn ei gysgawd Gien a Gwasgwin ; 

Ac yr oedd yn Frainc gwreiddin rhyvelwyr, 

Ie rwysg wythwyr i wyr Rhys Gethin. 56 

Draw y bu 'n trigaw lie mae tew 'r egin, 

Mae draw 61 ei law, ac 61 ei ewin, 

Ac yno yr ovned yr eginyn, 

Ac eraill a'i car ar yr holl werin, 6'0 

Liu o vrenhinoedd gorllewin, gerllaw, 

A erbyn ei law oiar ben ei lin. 

Evo a urddir, meddai gerdd Verddin, 

Evo a urdda a da bob dewin ; 64 

Ev a rydd riv gwydd lie y bydd byddin, 

Ev a roes lawer croes y carw Idlin, 

Rhoed iddo goler val yr bin y troes, 

Rhoi o Vair einioes i Harri vrenin. 68 

Llyw ar Gyveiliawg gyvranawg o rin 

Liu o Varwniaid gerllaw ei vrenin ; 

Lluryg i Gurig a ddwg y werin, 

Llyna wisg iddo pan drawo "n y drin ; 72 

Llawn ydyw o'r dawn, llin Ieuan Vychan ! 

Lien yw o arian ar blwyv Llan Wrin. 



Y DOSPARTEt VII. 



455 



VIII. 

MARWNAD HYWEL AB GRONWY, O VAELAWR. 



The death of Hywel is stated to have been deeply felt throughout the 
neighbourhood. He is described as having been a good scholar, as well as 
a pious individual ; and one also who delighted in entertaining the minstrels, 
and others, at his table. The bard despairs of seeing his like again ; but 
Avith a prophetic eye foretells that his posterity would become numerous ; and 
he prays that they may, like him, prove themselves to be worthy of their 
country. 



Wylais achos marwoiaeth, 
Wylaw, Gwae hi ! hael a'i gwnaeth ; 
Wyled Mon am lew du mawr, 
Wyled vil o wlad Vaelawr ; 
Arvon, Hywel ab Gronwy ! 
A wyl mor heli, a mwy ; 
Modioli ym vis Mai, dan ia ; 
Meirw hevyd am wyr Hwva. 



VIII. An elegy upon Hywel ab 
Gronwy, of Maelawr Gymmraeg. 

Hywel ab Gronwy was the pro- 
prietor of Havod y Wern, a stately 
mansion in the parish of Wrexham, 
Denbighshire. Hywel bore the arms 
of the founder of his tribe, Tudyr 
Trevor; namely, Party-per-bend si- 

Hywel ab Gronwy, = 
of Havod y Wern. 



nister ermine and ermines ; over all 
a lion rampant or, armed and lan- 
gued gules. 

Havod y Wern is still the property 
of a descendant of Hywel ab Gronwy, 
though the name has been changed 
by marriage from Puleston to Cooke, 



Alson = Hywel ab leuan ab Grufydd, of Bersham. 
da. and 
heir. 



Alson 
da. and 
heir. 



John Puleston, son of Madog Puleston second son of Robert Pu- 
leston of Emral, by Lowry sister to Owain Glyndwr. 



John Puleston Hen, chamberlain of North Wales, and ancestor of a long 
line of Pulestons at Havod y Wern. 



456 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Myned yn drev lom annoeth, 

Mae 'r Hold wen, am wr hael doeth ; 

Mae Gwrecsam am wr o'm iaith 

Gwedi wylaw gwaed eilwaith. 12 

Troia Maelawr Gymmraeg, 

Yw 'r tir am ysgwier teg. 

Penrhaith i dalm oV ieithoedd, 

Pendevig o Gynwrig oedd ; 1 6 

bai win i'r drev, beunydd 

Yr ai o'i dai, ar y dydd. 

Arver o wrandaw 'fferen, 

A wnai o Vair a nev wen ; 20 

Gildiaw 'n y drev gynnevin, 

A galw gwyr i gael gwin ; 

Gwahawdd deuvwy, drwy y drev, 

Un oedran a wnai ad rev ; 24 

Rhivaw da 'n yr Havod wen, 

Rhoi mwy er rhwymaw a wen ; 

Gowenu, myn delw Gynin ! 

Ar wyr o gerdd wrth roi 'r gwin ; 28 

A gair i'm oes, o'r gwyr mwy, 

Gwr unair a mab Gronwy ? 

Arwydd canol marwolaeth 

Yn Nghaer Wynt gynt a vu gaeth ; 32 

Yn gae yr oedd seren gron 

Ar ben draig Uthr Bendragon ; 

A Merddin a'i dewiniodd, 

A minnau vum o un vodd. 36 

Velly yr oedd, val lliw 'r wawr, 

Hywel, val haul, i Vaelawr ; 

10. Hold = Holt, a contributory 25. Havod wen, the house is called 

borough town on the Dee, east of Havon y Wern. The bard used the 

Wrexham, in the county of Denbigh, name Havod only, adding wen (fair,) 

13. Troia Maelaivr Gymmraeg, as an epithet. 

&c mention is here made of Hywel 31. Arwydd, &c. the comet was 

being buried in Maelawr Gymmraeg. esteemed the arwydd, or sign, of mor- 

Troia = Troy, an epithet frequently tality, according to the superstition 

applied by the poets to a beautiful of former ages. See Dosp. I. 22. 50. 

spot. 33. cae, a circle ; a halo ; a radi- 

21. Gildiaw, to contribute money ; ance. 
to present a gift. 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 457 

hwn, i gadw 'n nasiwn ni, 

Mae paladr, val mab Beli ; 40 

Ac o'r un mab Goronwy, 

Ugain mil a gawn, a mwy ; 

Hywel, val angel o'i lys, 

Vu winllan rhov a'i wenllys. 44 

Y mae, o'r breninbren raawr, 

Yma wialen yn Maelawr ; 

Pulstwn, a'i vara Alswn wen, 

Hwnyw'rddar; hon yw 'r dderwen ; 48 

A Hywel vuV pren hwyav, 

A fridd o'i gorf hardd a gav. 

Dwy Vaelawr o'i orwyrion 

A a yn wydd mawr o Nudd Mon ; 52 

Brig Sion a geidw gwirioniaid, 

A'i wraidd da o ardd ei daid ; 

Deunawosgl Pulstwn ieuanc 

A roi i bawb aur y Banc. 56 

1 Hywel y rhoed haiach 

Oed Nudd, a'i vywyd yn iach ; 

Yn oes hwnw, a'i synwyr, 

Duw a wnel Pulstwn ei wyr ; 60 

A Duw a Mair, nid rhaid mwy, 

A gar enaid mab Gronwy. 

50. A fridd, &c. " And children trees : here to be understood figura- 
from his loins there will be." tively, as signifying a nursery of chil- 

Fridd, a plantation ; a nursery of dren. 



Hh 



4<58 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

IX. 

I ROSSER AB SION AB RHOBERT, O VAELAWR. 



Roger Puleston is addressed as a distinguished and powerful warrior ; and 
one who possessed great wealth, a noble mansion, and an extensive terri- 
tory. 



Y milwr ni char malais, 

Ni wna na thraha na thrais ; 

Rhosser dry sorer y serch, 

Ab Sion lyvr Absi anerch ; 4 

IX. Addressed to Roger ab John ab Robert, of Maelawr. 

Sir Roger Puleston, knight, chamberlain of North Wales, slain in an in- 
surrection of the Welsh at Caernarvon, A. D. 1293. 



Sir Richard Puleston, son and heir. 

I 
Sir Roger Puleston = Margaret, daughter of Llywelyn ab Ynyr, of Ial. 
son and heir. Arms : Paly of eight or and gules. 



Richard Puleston, = Lleucu, daughter of Madog Voel, of Eglwyseg, from 
of Emrall, esq. Cynvrig Evell. 



Robert Puleston, = Lowry, daughter of Grufydd Vychan son of Grufydd, 



of Emrall, esq. 
slain in the 
wars between 
his brother-in- 
law and king 
Henry IV. 



of Rhuddallt, lord of Glyndyvrdwy and half of 
Cynllaith. She was sister to Owain Glyndwr, on 
the failure of whose male issue, Owain's arms de- 
scended to the Puleston's; namely, Paly of eight 
argent and gules : over all a lion rampant sable ; 
who still quarter them. Copied from a MS. written 
in 1698. 



John Puleston, =Angharad, daughter of Grufydd Hanmer son of sir David 
of Emrall, esq. Hanmer, of Hanmer hall, father-in-law of Owain 

Glyndwr ; and ancestor of the present sir John Han- 
mer, baronet, of Bettisfield, in the county of Flint. 

Roger Puleston, = Janet, daughter of Thomas Bulkeley, of Acton, esq. 
son and heir. 

4. Llyvr Absi, "the horn, or ABC, and that as he proceeded he would 
book." The bard meant by Absi advance in panegyric, 
that this poem was only initiatory; 






Y DOSFARTH VII. 459 

Siob oludawg o Robert, 

Sant Pawl elusendy pert. 

Hwn yw mor o Hanmeriaid 

Dros dir bedeiroes ei daid ; 8 

Hwn sydd o Bilstwn drwy 'r byd, 

Yn tyvu val naint hevyd. 

A'i aur yw Hi ar y lied, 

O'i wlad ev i ail Dyved. 12 

Alexander, Rosser ! oedd 

Yn leiav un o'i luoedd ; 

Er hyny ar hir enyd 

Ei allu vu yr holl vyd 16 

Un vaint y w Rhosser, neu vwy ; 

A'i drev ev a'i dlr vwyvwy. 

Mawr yw seren y morwyr, 

Mwy yw no swrn oV man syr. 20 

Y mae Rhosser val seren, 
Amliw ar weilcb Maelawr wen. 
A'i aur bath o bed war bys, 

Vu oleuni 'r Vel Ynys. 24 

Yn wreichionen ei hunan 
Ydyw o'i dir val dau dan. 

Y tir y sydd i'r Pretr Sion, 

AV tyrau aV tai hirion. 2S 

A'i dda arall ai ddewredd, 

Un mab i hwnw a'i medd. 

Un mab y w Rhosser, v'eryr ; 

I Sion lid Sioswa, neu Lyr. 32 

Unmab Rhosser goncwerwr, 

Yn ei ol a a yn wr. 

5. Siob oludaivg, " Job, the fabled prince ecclesiastic in Abyssinia. 
wealthy," a compliment to Roger's He is drawn, in heraldry, as a bi- 
father. shop sitting on a tombstone, having 

6. Sant Pawl, &c. an epithet ap- on his head a mitre, his dexter hand 
plied to Emrall, Roger's house. extended, a mound in his sinister, and 

17- Un vaint, &c. meaning that in his mouth a sword fesswise ; the 

Roger's mansion, — Roger's estate, point to the dexter side of the field, 

and Roger himself, were all three This is part of the arms of the episco- 

ample. pal see of Chichester. 

27. Pretr Sion, a complimentary 33. unmab, &c. t; a son worthy of 

epithet. Pretr or Preutur Sion, his great ancestor sir Roger Puleston, 

Prester John, or Presbyter John, a knight." 

Hh 2 



460 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI, 



Arglwyddi lin olin ynt, 
Arglwyddwaed un dreigl oeddynt. 
O Sion ; gwreiddiau a synwyr 
Yw ei vab, evo a'i wyr. 
Gwreiddiodd Rhosser val derwen, 
O Vynyvv dros avon Dren. 
Dwy Vaelawr y dyvelynt 
Ei dwr o Gaer Droia gynt. 
A'i gaer wendeg a"i rwndwal, 
O'i dir y Waun hyd ar Ial. 
Ei hyd gwrawl hyd Gorwen, 
Ei sail hyd yr Eglwys Wen. 
Ei gastell y dyellir 
A^ gaer dew "nghylch gwyr ei dir; 
Hwyr i vil o ryvelwyr 
Viniaw ei waleh, ev na'i wyr. 
Mur maen yw 'r Cymmro i'm ynys, 
Maen grwndwal ei Emral lys ; 
Maen gwerthvawr Maelawr y medd, 
Maen gwn hyd yn min Gvvynedd. 
Piler o Hanmer yw hwn, 
Heblaw ustus o Bilstwn. 
Rosser y w 'n dander a'n cledd, 
Rholant swydd Gaer ar Heledd. 
Nid mvvy fyniant sant dan ser, 
Nid dewr isod ond Rhosser ; 
Rhosser yw hanner yr Holt, 
Aeth Rhosser a thri hwswolt ; 
Aeth i Rosser goler gwyn, 
Ev a eilwaith yn velyn. 



36 



40 



44 



48 



52 



56 



00 



64 



44. Tir y Waun = Swydd y Waun, 
the lordship of Chirk, in Denbigh- 
shire. 

46. Eglwys Wen, Whitchurch, 
near Denbigh. Here the celebrated 



Twm o'r Nant (Thomas Edwards) 
was buried. 

62. hivswolt~a household: teulu, 
tylwyth. 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 



461 



X. 



I HUW CONWY, O VRYN EURYN. 



North Wales is mentioned as the land of ale, mead, and wine ; and 
the house of Hugh Conwy as the place whither the indigent minstrel should 
resort. Hugh is celebrated for his military acts, his hospitality, and for his 
unbounded munificence to the bards. The latter part of the poem is taken 
up in eulogizing Elizabeth, Hugh Conwy's wife, and in giving a sketch of 
her pedigree. 



A garo mwyn gwrw a medd, 
A dau win, aed i Wynedd ; 



X. Addressed to Hugh Conway, 
of Bryn Euryn. 

Bryn Euryn is a mansion in ruins, 
in the parish of Llandrillo yn Rhos, 
on the sea-coast of Creuddyn, and to 
the west of Abergelau. Tradition re- 
cords that it was formerly called Llys 
Maelgwn Gwynedd ; and that it had 
been the habitation of Marchudd ab 
Cynan the fifth, in point of priority, 
of the fifteen ennobled tribes of North 
Wales. Of this Marchudd an ano- 
nymous Latin versifier, in a scarcely 
legible old MS., wrote thus : 

Strenuus Uwch Dulae Marchudd 

bellator in orbe 
Sanguineo tumidi spolium prselus- 

tre gigantis 
vEquali pugna et justo certamine 

caesi — 
Fert caput avulsum tantique in- 

signe triumphi 
Tortilis argenti nitidique corona re- 

vincit 
Quo Rex descendens Henricus Sep- 
timus exit 
Claruit Eduallo sub Calvo rege 

Britanno. 

Maelgwn Gwynedd, in the 6th cen- 
tury ; Marchudd, in the 19th; and 
Grufydd Goch lord of Rhos, about 
the conclusion of the 14th century, 
may be reckoned the most noted pro- 
prietors of Bryn Euryn. Grufydd 
Goch was grandfather to Hugh Con- 



way, the subject of this poem. Hugh 
Conway was the first who borrowed 
from the river which bounded his 
territory the permanent family sur- 
name of Conwy. 

The Conways of Bod-Tryddan, 
near St. Asaph, affected a foreign de- 
scent from the Conyers of Richmond 
in Yorkshire ; but both the Conways, 
Welsh and Anglo-Norman, now lie 
with the Capulets, excepting some 
fragment of the name preserved by a 
branch of the English nobility, ap- 
parently descended from the learned 
secretary of state, under James I., of 
that name. 

The tribe, or clan, of Grufydd 
Goch of Bryn Euryn were numerous 
in the lordships of Rhos and Rhy- 
voniog. Some anecdotes of their 
strength and skill in archery are re- 
corded at Conway, and at Coed 
Marchan, when they besieged the 
Thelwalls, then numerous in the vale 
of Clwyd, within the walls of Ruthyn 
castle. John ab Maredydd, of Ystum 
Cegid, marched his clan from Evi- 
onydd, through the defiles of Snow- 
don, and relieved the Thelwalls from 
their thraldom, and restored them to 
their respective homes ; viz. to Bath- 
avarn, Plas Ward, Llan Bedr, Nant 
Clwyd, Plas Coch, &c. 

An excellent view of Bryn Euryn, 
in its present state, may be seen in 
Hughes's Beauties of Cambria. 

Hh3 



462 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

A vyno help i vyvv 'n hwy, 

Aed, caned i Huw Conwy. 4 

Rholant, ni bu wr haelach, 

Robin y w, hir y bo 'n iach ; 

Edn yw ev o Ednyved, 

Eryr yw cryv ar wyr Cred. 8 

Mi yw 'r gwr, val y raae 'r gog, 

Ac a alwan' yn geiliog ; 

Y ceiliog ni chan celwydd, 

A gan i Dduw ac e 'n ddydd. J 2 

Canu uwch acen a wnav, 

I Huw Conwy y canav ; 

Ac edn xcyv, ni 'm gad yn ol, 

Abl a gan yn bylgeiniol ; 10* 

Canu cathl, val can cethlydd, 

Erddo a wn ar wawr ddydd ; 

Cathl ber o ben pererin 

Yn mron gwyl, yn mryn y gwin ; 20 

Yn Mryn Euryn mae V nawradd, 

A vu yn nev, o vain nadd ; 

Ac yn mhob gradd o naddynt 

Gwin a pharch a gawn a phunt. 24 

Yn nesav i Noe eisoes, 

Ond ei blant, vu 'n dyblu oes ; 

Bu 'n vrenin a dewin da, 

Belus ar gwbl o "Syria. 28 

I Huw yntau, val Hantwn, 

Y tro rhent y tir hwn ; 
O'r a von elwir Conwy 

Ei dir a el hyd ar Wy ; 32 

A'i goed a'i wydd gyda 'i win 

O graig Ofa i Gaer Gyfin ; 

Dano bu hyd na beiir 

Sawdwyr swrn, glo sedr Sir ; 36 

5. Rholant, Rolando, a compli- 28. Belus, a king of Assyria, 
mentary epithet to Hugh Conway. 29. Hantwn, syr Bevys o Hantwn. 

6. Robin, Hugh Conway's father. 34. craig Ofa, Offa's dyke. 
21. nawradd, an allusion to the Caer Gyfin, the old Conway. 

nine orders of angels. 36. sedr (sad), firm. 



Y DOSPARTH VII. 463 

E savodd deutu Syvarn, 

AV Ddena vawr ddoe 'n y varn ; 

Troia a Groeg, rhag troi gradd, 

Yn amlwg a wnai ymladd ; 40 

Gwedy hyny eu hunain 

Troi yn un natur o'r rhai'n. 

Mae chwedl mai dwy genedlaeth 

Iso 'n un nasiwn a aeth ; 44 

AV ddwy 'n un, un radd, un wedd, 

Oedd genedi Nordd a Gwynedd. 

Gwraig Huw wrawl, gwraig hiriell, 

sir Gaer nid oes wraig well ; 48 

Aeth cenedl Elsbeth Conwy 

Verwig wen hyd vro Gwy ; 
Hi o Domas Salbri sydd 

1 alw V genedi ar gynnydd ; 52 
Wyr syr Sion Donn ys da waed 

Yw'r heulwen o'r rhiawlwaed. 

Da oedd cyfion Huw Conwy, 

A da y w Huw wedi hwy ; 56 

IV plant oil, rhag planed dig, 

Y bo nodded Beneddig. 

JBendithion Elsbeth Conwy 

A ddaw yn hawdd iddyn* hwy ; 60 

A'r vendith a riv un-Duw 

Byth i hil Elsbeth a Huw ; 

A rhiv gwlith o vendithion 

A vo i Huw; ev a hon. 64 



37. Syvarn, the river Severn. one Hobert they came (about A.D« 

43. Mae chwedl, &c. " There is a 877) to Gwynedh, or North Wales? 

report current that the people of the in the beginning of \ the reign of 

North and Gwynedd are mixed and Anarawd, who, commiserating their 

become one nation." " After the distressed condition, gave them the 

death of Roderic the Great, the country from Chester 'to Conwy, if 

Northern Britons of Stratclwyd and they could drive out the Saxons, who 

Cumberland were much infested and had lately possessed themselves there- 

weakenedgby the continual incursions of." See Camden's Britannia, vol. ii. 

of the Danes, Saxons, and Scots, pp. 559, 560. 

which made many of them quit their 58. Beneddig=Bened'\gjl t St. Bene- 

oountry, and seek^for more peaceful diet, 
habitations. Under the conduct of 



h h 4 



GWAITH 
LEWIS GLYN COTHL 

DOSPARTH VIII. 

Y LLWYTH BRENHINAWL, &C. 



I. 



I IASPER IARLL PENVRO. 



The earl Jasper is represented throughout the whole poem under the 
mystic personification of the initial letter of his name, which the bard calls 
the " capital I" of the Irish Ogham (the English J being unknown to the 
Welsh alphabet). The I occurs in almost every couplet ; as, — I is beyond the 
sea — I traverses the three seas — and nine havens dread his approach — I's 
guiding star blazes over the two glaives (Dau Gleddau == Milford) ; — I will 
land — I will give battle — I will revenge his wrongs. After his victory — I 
will offer gold upon two altars to his guardian saint. Tbe North can read 
I — and the North men will declare for him. There is not a Saxon from 
hence to Windsor but trembles at the thought of the transmarine I, &c. &c. 



Yr un o'r llythyreni, 
Olo yr iaith, elwir I, 



I. Addressed to Jasper, earl of 
Pembroke, when he absconded into 
Britanny. 

The title at the head of this poem 
could not have been given by the 
bard himself previous to the battle 
of Bosworth in 1485; otherwise he 
might have suffered the law clue to 
his crime. Some copyist in after- 
times prefixed the dedication. When 



the poem was composed, the earl of 
Pembroke had retired beyond the sea 
for safety. It is written in the enigma- 
tical style of the Brudiau, a mode 
very common in that age, and which 
contributed much to cause the Welsh 
nation to join the earl of Richmond 
on his route from Milford to Shrews- 
bury. 



Y D0SPART1I VIII. 465 

Darllain a wna ugain iaith 

Yr I bono o'r heniaith ; 4 

Yr I Gatftel Wyddelig 

Ydyw 'r I dros dir a drig. 

Ar y mor oer y mae 'r I, 

A naw havn yn ei hovni ; 8 

I guddiedig o ddodiad 

A ddaw o'r cudd i roi cad ; 

Yr I uniawn oV waneg 

A lumniwyd dan elment teg ; 12 

Ei brawd a roes yn ei bro 

Aur yr hynaiv ar hono ; 

Gwynedd a ddyall ganwaith 

Liw o'r aur i lywiaw 'r iaith ; \6 

Ar ol y dyaill mor war 

Liw du i lywiaw daiar ; 

O dri lliw y darlleir, 

O dair rhan y daw'r I hir. 20 

O ran gwlad Gynan y gwin, 

Ron waed o ran Edwin ; 
Ynglyn gwlad Brydyn a'i bro, 

Yn Mrut y Cymmry eto ; 24 

Y Nordd a ddarllean 1 I, 

Y Nordd wyr a wna erddi. 
Un-Sais ni char hyd Winsor 

Soniaw am I dros un mor; 28 

Aeth yn wr wrth enw arab, 

1 i'r mor at Vair a'i mab ; 
Daeth seren uwch ben i I 

Yn y glyn a'i goleuni ; 32 

Mae seren wen, uwch gwlad Non, 

I'r I arall yr awrhon ; 

A oleu, ar wyl Ieuan, 

O vlaen I deg val yn dan. 30' 

Uwch ben Dau Gleddau enyd 

Oil y bu yn ganwyll byd ; 

I'r Ian wrth oleu 'r ganwyll 

Y daw I i ddial ei dwvll ; 40 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



Ar ddwy allawr i Ddewi 
Yr aur o'i ddwrn a rydd I ; 
Evo a aeth I dros vor 
I a dramwy o drimor ; 
Ev a a y dan ei vys 
Yr I winau oV Ynys. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 467 



II. 



MAREDYDD AMHAREDYDD, O DREV EGLWYS, PAN 
OEDD Y BARDD AR HERW O ACHAWS SIASPER 
IARLL PENVRO. 



This poem was probably written shortly after Jasper earl of Pembroke 
was defeated by the young earl of March, at Mortimer's cross in Hereford- 
shire, in Candlemas eve, in 1461. The bard, like his master, was obliged to 
live in concealment, flying from place to place, hiding himself sometimes 
among rocks, and at other times in the heart of a thick forest. In this poem 
he gives a vivid description of the places of his concealment, and how he 
finally arrived at Maredydd's mansion, where he met with not only a wel- 
come reception, but also a kind protector. 



Ye eryr o war Arwystl 

Aur a gostia ar dir gwystl ; 

Maredydd, dybudd pob dyn 5 

Amharedydd yn Mhrydyn ; 4 

Arweddodd, gwreiddiodd mewn gras, 

O Ieuan Moel, enw Melwas ; 

Enw Ivor, awn ei ovyn, 

Enw Galath Ieuan y Glyn. 8 

Aur pwys Trev Eglwys yw vo 

A wyl Arwystl ei euro ; 

Ceidwad i wan a chadarn 

O Owain Voel yw 'n y varn. 12 

O daw rhyvel dur hevyd 

Ar bawb y myn ran o'r byd : 

Y byd a aeth, medd pob dyn, 

Yn ymladd hyd yn Emlyn. \Q 



II. Addressed to Meredith son of 9. Trev Eglwys, one of the six 

Meredith, of Trev Eglwys. parishes of the hundred of Arwystli. 

4. yn Mhrydyn, for yn Mhrydain, 14. Ar = oAAi ar. 

to suit the rhyme. 16. hyd yn Emlyn, that is, any 

8. Galath, son of sir Lancelot and distant place, though he names a par- 
one of the twenty- four knights of ticular district. 
Arthur's round table. 



468 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Mi 'n ddydechwr celliau 

A drig sCi wal mewn dar gau. 

Y'nghoedwig brig Allt y Brain, 

A'i bro, y bu wyr Owain ; 20 

Minnau yn y man yno 

Drwy vedvv 'r allt a roav dro ; 

I dy Maredydd y dov, 

Lie 'r eurir llawer erov ; 24 

Ac yno tario hyd dydd 

I Bennant Bacho beunydd. 

Llechu "n ngrug Cwm Buga, 

Llwydwydd im' yr allt oedd dda; 28 

Rhodiaw bron Bumlummon las, 

Rhivaw gwawn rhov a gwanas. 

Gwyliavv o hyn hyd Galan 

Ar y naw mor o'r un man ; 3 2 

Oddiyno troi 'n ddeiniad rhydd 

Ydyw 'mryd i dai M'redydd. 

A pheunydd at yr hydd hwn 

I'm ciniaw yr amcanwn ; 3(5 

Vm swpper, arver vy iaith, 

I'm gwely, m' Iago ! eilwaith. 

Vy mwyd, vy niawd, vy medd 

Y mae yno a'm annedd ; 40 

Lie yngod ger Haw angel, 

A llyn a gav a Hen gel. 

Meistr i'm a vvnaeth Westmestr ail, 

Maredydd Uyma 'r adail ; 44 



17- Dydechwr, a lurker ; a skulker: as Pennant Bacho in aid of Henry I. 

llechwr, ymlechwr ; un ar fo. king of England, against Grufydd 

19. Allt y Brain, a cliff near Mere- son of Conari prince of North Wales, 
dith's residence. See PoweVs Hist, of Cambria, p. 128. 

20. y bu wyr Owain, Owain Glyn- 4to. 

dwr's forces had their abodes in the 27. Cwm Buga, vulgo Cwm Biga, 

recesses of Pumlummon, so named from a stream called Buga, 

26. Pennant Bacho, a dingle in the flowing from the south into the Se- 

vicinity of Pumlumon. Bacho, vul- vera, near Llanidloes. 
garly for Bachwy, a stream that joins 32. Ar y naw mor, that is, here 

the Severn. Alexander king of Scot- and there, and everywhere ; in every 

land, and Hugh earl of Chester point, 
brought their forces, in 1113, as far 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 469 

Nodded yw 'r ty gwyn eiddaw, 

Nawdd-dir inT yw 'r neuadd draw : 

Ty ^scwar yw seintwar y sant, 

Ty Rhuveinwaith Glyn Trevnant ; 48 

Ni ad vo enyd ei vardd 

Ev o'i dy yn vwyd-wahardd : 

Ni ddov o'i neuaddau wr, 

Hyni gwncwero 'r henwr ; 52 

Hyni ddel tan o'r waneg, 

Hyni el dwr yn haul deg ; 

Hyni ddel tros hyn ddiliw 

Y pair ei air yn mhob rhiw. 56 

E bair aur, e bair arian, 

Hyni ddel mel oV gro man ; 

Hyni el tros oedran hydd, 

Mair i adael Maredydd. 60 



48. Glyn Trevnaint, the name of dith such a length of life as that of 

Maredydd's residence, or the town- the -stag." The bard is playing, 

ship in which his house was situated, throughout the last five couplets, upon 

55. Diliw =diluw= diluvium, a de- the same idea of not quitting the man- 
luge : dyliv, sion of Meredith, until some point 

59. Hyni el, &c. " Provided that should be gained, 
the Virgin Mary would grant Mere- 






470 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

III. 

I IASPAR IARLL PENVRO. 



In this ode we have a good specimen of Awdl Vrydiau, a species of poetry 
so current in the bard's time, in which the leading characters of the day were 
introduced under fictitious names, borrowed chiefly from the animal creation. 
Here the bard has collected a large menagerie of all kinds of animals, wild 
and tame, from twenty to thirty in all, intending them, no doubt, to represent 
different individuals then living. 



Rhoed y Llewpard ddwy 'spardun 

Am ystlys mam ynys Mon ; 

Dysged alarch b'le disgyn, 

A ph'le boV iwjwlbart hen. I 

Yjwlbart a gaif helbul 

Gan wiber ac un ebol ; 

Gan ascn a'i gwayw 'n isel, 

Gan neidr ac un o Idwal. 8 

Tarw o Idwal yw 'r trydydd, 

Drwy V byd wedi 'r oero'r baedd ; 

A'i dridart Lexvpart Caer Ludd 

A dyn feilsion o'u falsedd. 12 

Fals veddwl y porthcwlis, 

Fon o Rag a phwn o Ros; 

Wyth o eirth a saith arthes, 

A wenwynodd ein ynys. 1(5 

Naw ynys a'u cynhenoedd 

A vwrw V twrch, ev a'i arwydd; 

Llew a bwch, parchell, y baedd ; 

Bual a Lings, oen a blaidd. 20 

III. Addressed to Jasper earl of the enemy. 

Pembroke. 14. Fon o Bag, probably an allu- 

13. porthcwlis = portcullis, a ma- sion is made here to " Ragman's 

chine, resembling a harrow without Roll," a statute so called, appointed 

teeth, hung over the gates of a city, by Edward III. 
or castle, to be let down to keep out 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 471 

Y blaidd a'i vab a leddir, 

Yr db, aV sarf, aV wiber; 

AV wadd ieuanc oV ddaiar, 

A chi oer, a cliyw eryr. 24 

Gwae V eryr, a gwae 'r aran; 

A gwae 'r draig, a gwae V dragwn ; 

Gwae 'r lleuad oV gorllewin, 

Gwae 'r cnot oil, gwae wyr Cent hen. 28 

Gyda Vy<z hen a"V gwenith, 

Iso ev a 5d<s i veth ; 

EvaaV^i varw byth, 

Un a'i gyr ewin y gath. 32 

Tair iaith y gath vraith vu rodd, 

T rich ant a losgant Caer Ludd ; 

Tored muriau ei neuadd 

Triniaid y tarw o Wynedd. 36 

Taurus Cornutus tri natur ydyw, 

Wedi'r brenin Arthur ; 

O geirw y banc, o Loegr bur ; 

O waed Idwal ; o Dudur. 40 

Dudur y mae yn ngwlad Eidal 

Ceiliog forestog a wna fristial ; 

0"i ddwy adain vain vydd val yn tyvu, 

Ac yn addvedu manblu aur mal. 44 

Vrytaen i dir heb vawr attal 
Yr ehedai ev, aV rhai dyval 

Ddeau Cymmru ; ar ddwywal Llundainj 

Ev a gan blygain dros vain y Val. 48 

AV cathlev cyntav ar Vathraval, 

AV ail o Sandwis ar ael Syndal ; 

Trydydd ar Gaerdydd, yn dal i Iaspar, 

A gan i adar gywion Idwal. 52 

01 ei big lemhir, val bagl Owmal, 
A gair yvory ar Gaer Vawrial ; 



472 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

01 ei ddwy adain o Ial i'r Heledd, 

01 ei ewinedd i ar Lynal. 56 

Ac yno 'r eildydd, gan ryw Oldal, 

Y daw rhyw Owain yn darw rial ; 

Ac y gvvna 'n borva a'i bal, hyd Ddevnsir ; 

Y grug a gweundir o Gaer Gyndal. 60 

Ac a ddial cam ar rai gwamal, 

Ac a dyr daiar gvvedi'r dial ; 

Ac a dyr gestyll gyda'i arial dwys ; 

Ac a ran Bowys a'i gyrn bual. 64 

Ac a achub lore, a Chaer Dubai ; 

Ac a yr baner Lloegr i Bennal ; 

Ac a ddaw i diriaw i dal mor Havren ; 

Ac a yr Rhonwen wraig i'r henwal. 68 

AY gwragedd Seisnig iY dwr meddal, 

AY Saesnes ormes i drev Gingsal ; 

AY Saesneg wan-greg i wal yr eigion, 

AY Saeson duon i'r un dial. 72 

Nac oeded Ddyved, wlad ddioval ; 

Na'i thir graiandeg na'i thri grwndwal; 

Noded o Milfwrt, anwadal ddaiar ; 

Nesaed a'i adar ynys Dudwal. 76* 

Ernprwr vo evo He mae 'r aval, 

Enaid Brutaniaid yw'r gwallt a'r tal ; 

Einioes i Iaspar, Ynial garennydd, 

Wyneb a devnydd Bran ab Dyvnwal. 80 

Mai Bran ab Dyvnwal a dart y hynnill 

Hanner Frainc a Lwmbart ; 

A Duw a wnel, dan ei wart ; 

Gwellau hap gwayw y Llewpart. 84 

60. Caer Gyndal, Kendal, in West- 70. Trev Gingsal, Kinsale, in Ire- 

morland. land. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 473 

IV. 

I IASPAR IARLL PENVRO. 
A. D. 1460. 



This ode, in the MS., bears the date of the year 1460. It is therefore 
probable that it was written shortly after the battle of Northampton, (which 
took place July 10th, 1460) ; when the king's army was defeated. It was 
written, most likely, with the view of inducing the Welsh to rally under the 
banner of Jasper earl of Pembroke. On this occasion, it is said, queen Mar- 
garet collected an army, twenty thousand strong, with a celerity which was 
neither expected by her friends, nor apprehended by her enemies ; and en- 
gaging the duke of York's army at "Wakefield (December 24th, 1460) ob- 
tained a complete victory. 



Y tir a'r dwr ir ar dro sy hysbys 
Dan Siasbar iarll Penvro ; 

Y Deau bid, hyd y bo, 

A dwy Wynedd y dano. 4 

Aeth dano, m' Iago ! egin Deheubarth, 

Hebog y Queen Catrin ; 

Un brawd ynn a barai win, 

Un vron yw hwn a'i vrenin. 8 

Henri vrenin fordd ydd el hinon, 

Ev a aV gwareu, ev a'r goron ; 

Edwart Dywysog beb dretusion, 

A geidw 'r ynys a gwaywdur union. 12 

Iaspar yn drydydd Pen Mynydd Mon, 

A ynnill y gwr, myn Haw Garon ! 

Harri o Rismwnt o Gaerlleon, 

Ar ol ei ewythr a i Li won. 16 

IV. An ode addressed to Jasper ward," the son of Henry VI., " with- 

Tudor earl of Pembroke, written, out having recourse to treacherous 

according to the MS. note, when the acts, will equitably guard the British 

bard was in concealment. isle with an iron-pointed spear." 

11. Edward dywysog, " prince Ed- 16. Lliwon = lA\von, in Anglesea. 



474 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Marchog o'r Gardr, val yr oedd Meirchion, 

Yw Iaspar a gar ei ragorion ; 

Yn Varc y gelwir o hyn i Von, 

Yn Ddug y gelwir yn dda ei galon. 2<) 

Beli yw Iaspar Talebolion, 

Bliant yw o aur lie bu blant Don ; 

At Iaspar aed gwyr Aberdaron, 

A hyn a orvydd ar hen Arvon. 24 

A chaer Degeingl a Cheredigion, 

A chyrau Llywel, a Chaer Llion ; 

At Iaspar ydd a tir Cymaron, 

Yr hwn a gyvyd yr hen govion. 28 

A'r wythiaith i'r Rhyd Goch ar Ieithion 
Yn oes ei dad i'r ynys y don"' ; 
Yn ei oes y daw yn westeion 

Y meirch prenau a rhwyvau gwyr Rhon. 32 

Ac ev a chwery 'r daran gyvion, 

A dur a chwery drwy Uwch Aeron; 

Ev a wery 'r Sies vry a'r Saeson, 

Ev a a'r gwareu, ev a'r gwirion. 36 

E chwery fristiol ag urddolion, 

Y gwr a ynnill hyd Gaer Einion ; 

E chwery bars rhwng y Mars a Mon, 

Ev a ladd yno vil o ddynion. -10 

Ev a a a'r tir a vu 'n dirion, 

Y bu 'n diriogaeth Uthr Bendragon ; 



17- Marchog oV Gardr, knight of 25. TegeingI, Englefield, formerly 

the Garter. a cantrev in the county of Flint now 

19. Yn Varc, marquiss. Lewis called the hundred of Coleshill. 

Morris. 26. Llywel, a parish in Breck- 

23. Aberdaron, a parish in Caer- nockshire. 

narvonshire. The church is dedi- 35, Ev a wery V sies, " he will 

cated to St. Hywyn, a saint of the play a game of chess," that is, he 

island of Bardsey ; it was a sanctu- will display his skill in martial tac- 

ary, and also much frequented by tics, 
pilgrims. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 475 

A ader heibio o'r diarhebion, 

Gwir yw diarheb y gwyr dewrion, 4\ 

" Gwell yw hen hawl gwayw llinon, 

" No hen alanas hen etymon." 

A hwnw a hawl yr hen holion, 

Yr erw bengam iV roi iV wyrion ; 4 8 

A'r trevydd caerog, a'r marchogion, 

A'r tir gwenith a'r tyrau gwynion. 

Ar dyrau gwynion, ar dai urael raavvr, 

Y mae ei lawn avael ; 52 
Oes Iaa i'r Cymmro gwineuael, 

Oes ysper hir Siaspar hael. 

I Iaspar a gar y main gwn y mae 

Maine brenin Arragwn ; 56 

Ei sel, ei dir a welwn, 

Ei lu hardd dan wiail hwn. 

Irion wiail o ran Owain 

Edn a gywain, dawn i gywir, 60 

Ei waed rhial hyd Darywain 

Ac o Owain ni wna gohir. 

Ei gynghorau nos a borau, 

Ei ragorau mawr a gerir ; 64 

O'r maelorau, a'u maenorau, 

Y iarll gorau y w 'r Hew geirwir. 

Gwirion oesawg, gwr yn nesu, 

Gwyr a'i llesu a gra llaeshir ; 68 

Gwyn-gyf oesawg, gan gyfesu 

A gair Iesu, ev a groesir. 

Gwalch gwlad Rosog, gwrt diddosog, 

Gorhof osog lie gorphwysir ; 72 

Gwr lliosog, gestyll closog, 

Gwraidd osog gwyr y ddwysir. 

45. Gwell yw hen hawl, &c. Gwell 59. Owain, Owen Tudor, Jasper 

hen hawl no hen alanas. Diar. Tudor's father. 

i i 2 



476 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Siroedd ovyn, sy wraidd yved 

Seilion Dyved islaw 'n dovir ; 76 

Sawl dan ovyn sel Ednyved, 

Seler yved sawl a rivir. 

Sarf amneidiau, sant eneidiau, 

Sail i neidiau Sul a nodir ; 80 

Swrn o bleidiau sydd i'w deidiau, 

A sud heidiau dros Deheudir. 

Tiroedd dano y traidd dynion, 

Trwy ovynion taer a vynir ; 84 

Torv a gano trevi gwynion, 

Tyrau crynion i'r tarw cornhir, 

Trwy Ddarywain i drev Nywain, 

Trwy Gedy wain traw gadewir ; 88 

Talaith Gywain, tal Ednywain, 

Twr o Owain a'r gvvayw trahir. 

Hirion vilwyr i hwn Veli 

O Gydwely gad a wylir ; 92 

Heb eiddilwyr, heb Wyddeli, 

O vor heli vry y h wylir. 

Hav hir velyn, hydd Twr Celyn, 

Hwn a welyn', henw a wylir ; 96 

Hil Llywelyn hyd Gynvelyn 

A yr gelyn Tr gwial ir. 

Irddail yw rhiv arddelwyr hwn, 

Y gwr ar rwn a garai wir ; 100 

Y gwr a riv y gwyr ar rwn, 
Pa wr y w hwn ond Iaspar hir ? 

Y gwyr digel a ddaw lie Md el, 

I'w dad y del Ardudwy dir ; 104 

Aed tan ei sel y byd yn bel, 
Iddo yr el y ddaiar ir. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 477 



CYWYDD I SIASBAR AB OWAIN TUDUR. 



In this poem the bard speaks openly and fearlessly as to the decisive part 
Jasper Tudor should take. He inquires, with some degree of impatience, 
what had become of Jasper, — the bull of the conflict ; and where could he be 
found ? in what country ? or on what sea ? He tells him that he was ex- 
pected to be at his post in the month of May ; but that now the month of 
August had arrived without any signs of his making his appearance. He 
urges him by all means to admit the Raven (sir Rice ab Thomas) into his 
counsels ; for that by his alliance and the assistance of the Northwallians, he 
would be able to put an end to the claims (line 57) of any of Edward's fa- 
mily to the crown of England. 



Sais adwyth mewn sias yd wyd, 

Siaspar ! ba ddaiar ydd wyd ? 

Pa vor y mae d'angorau ? 

Pa bwnt lie 'r wyt hwnt, wr tau ? 4 

Pa bryd, (pa hyd y'n hoedir?) 

Y tarw du y troi i dir ? 
Gwyl Vair, gwylia o voroedd, 

Gwynedd wen dan ganu Md oedd. 8 

Mis Mai, di vai yvv dy vodd, 
Od wyt draw, y doit drwodd. 
Duw ! Awst, gwedi ei estyn, 

Y doit ; ti a oedit hyn : 12 
O rod i rod p'le 'r yd wyd ? 

Sori ddyn aros ydd wyd. 

O chysgaist, pan vych wisgi, 

Arglwydd Penvro defro di ; 16 

Tiria, y bwla ! heb oludd ; 

Truan yw 'n rhwym, tro ni 'n rhydd ; 



V. Addressed to Jasper earl of Henry earl of Richmond's arrival at 
Pembroke. This poem was proba- Milford, where he landed 7th of Au- 
bly written a few days previous to gust, 1438. 



478 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Duw hael a rydd dau hwylwynt, 

Dial beth oV goval gynt ; 20 

Cymer di, wyr Cymmry ! d 1 ach, 

Y Vr&n, yn dy gy vrinach ; 

Gwenol briodol, a brain, 

A wna lendid i Lundain. 24 

A nodes beirdd enwedig 

A ddaeth oil yn oddaith ddig. 

Amlys im - *, dan ymlivv ser, 

Ymsang yn Lloegr un amser ; 28 

Llin Hors llyna eu harswyd, 

Llyna ?r Vorwyn o'r llwyn llwyd. 

Nid divraw 'r engl, nid hyvryd, 

Neidr vraith a wna 'r gwaith i gyd. 32 

Gwenwyn a bair digoni, 

Gwae nhwy gan ei gwenwyn hi. 

Dwy Wynedd a eilw sant Denis, 

Ev a gly w o chawn vy w vis ; 36 

Dwyrain a glyw, dyrnig lwyth, 

Deivr ormes Dovr ormwyth ; 

Dyhuno Bristo, a'i bron, 

B'le Md wyd a wna bloedd eidion ? 40 

Tarw dig a wna tori dur, 

Tro i neitiaw tri natur ; 

Tarw glew yn mhob antur glan, 

Torvoedd colledroedd Uydan : 44 

Yr un tarw y sy "n arwain 

Cyrn aur val coron o wain. 

Da vu Dduw, i dwv ydd aeth, 

Droi 'n y tarw dri naturiaeth. 4 8 

I Sais rhag trais, anrheg traeth, 

Dygwn dy enedigaeth ; 

Franc cadarn ar vara Frainc ydwyd, 

Ein brut ni, ein Brytxvn wyd ; 52 

Dyro vloeddj darw o Vleddyn ! 

Dyro gri daiar a gryn ; 

27. Amlys im' {am and llys, llysu, llysiad), K I dare not tread on Saxon 

ground." 



y DOSPARTH VIII. 479 

Bedwyr o Dudur dadwys, 

Buglodda glawdd Ofa ddwys. 56 

Bron tarw a clyr braint Iorwerth, 

Brev ar Dduw nev yn dy nerth ! 

Bwriad dieithr brawd teyrn, 

Briw dy gas rhag bvvrw dy gym ; GO 

Bvvgwl cedeirn, bugail cadr, 

Bwla Cymmru benbaladr. 



i4 



480 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 



VI. 



I GRUFYDD IEUAN LLWYD. 



This poem is addressed to a cavalier who met the earl of Richmond, when 
he landed at Milford, in August 1485 ; and followed him to Bos worth field. 
The bard prognosticates his advancement to honours, by the royal munifi- 
cence, for his services ; and alludes to some deeds of valour done by him in 
the field of battle, where he was mounted on his " bayard," (line 20), striking 
terror and death by the skilful use of his poleaxe. The bard (in lines 37, 
38.) exults at the prospect of a lasting peace after the sanguinary conflicts 
between the rival houses. 



Grufydd ! nos a dydd nos daed, 

Gwalch hael oV gloew uchelwaed ; 

Bendigeidran ymwanwyr 

Wyd o Ieuan Llwyd ah Llyr\ 

A derwen forest diredd, 

A dart mab Edryd y medd. 

Dygaist, er digostiaw iaith, 

Dy vrenin adrev unwaith ; 

Pan diriodd penaduriaid, 

A thynu Rhos wrth ein rhaid ; 

Yno y gwelid ein galawns> 

A Jlu fair Iorc, a llu Frawns; 

Liu mawrdrum gerllaw mordraeth, 

A llawer trwmp gerllaw *r traeth ; 



12 



VI. Addressed to Griffith Ieuan Llwyd. 



Ieuan Llwyd = Edryd w&n 



Grufydd Ieuan Llwyd = Mawd. 



Tomas 

I 
Siancyn 



3. Bendigeidran, &c. " The Ben- 
digaid Vran of the combatants." A 
complimentary epithet to Griffith. 

10. A thynu Rhos, an allusion to 
Griffith mustering the men of Rhos, 



in Pembrokeshire, to join the stand- 
ard of Richmond . 

11. ein galawns = our gallant ones. 

12. fair loir, the posse collected 
for Richard III. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 481 

Agwns ynghylch maner goch, 

A fyrdd uthr fordd yr aethoch ; 16 

Troist di Rufydd tros deirfordd, 

Tyrau yn wag, trwy y Nordd ; 

Troist wyr yn gyrch, troist rai 'n gall, 

Ti a'th vaeart a'th vwyall. 20 

O wybr y Nordd bu y naill, 

A'u lliv oer, a^ llev eraill ; 

A'u trwst o waith un-Duw tri, 

A'u trwst y seithved Harri. 24 

E ddywawd y beirdd ieuainc, 

A'r hen veirdd ar eu hyn vainc ; 

Y dai gynhen hyd Gynwy, 

Gan Dduw mawr, ac ni ddaw mwy. 28 

E a vu varw 'r tarw aV tan, 

Trwy vaedd, lleidr torvoedd llydan ; 

Aeth heibiaw, drwy wyth ebwch, 

Echrys byd a chwrs y bwch ; 32 

AV gorsied yn vriwedig, 

Velly fon avail a phig ; 

A'r baedd oer Tr bedd a aeth, 

AV egwyd a 1 ! rywogaeth. 36 

AV byd, es enyd y sydd, 

A'i holl wenwyn yn llonydd. 

Bydd, Grufydd, wedi 'r gorphen, 

Bader doeth ; mab Edryd wen ! 40 

Ni'm gad Mawd heb ddiawd dda, 

Nac heb v'aur, nac heb vara ; 

Nac heb letty vry, di vraw, 

Na Mawd heb y mwyd heibiaw. 44 

Merch Siancyn dengnyn a dal, 

Wyr Domas wryd Owmal ; 

Hon sydd o gyf Gwinionydd, 

A hon val ei hynaiv vydd. 4S 

29. E a vu varw, &c. allusions 34. fon avail, the stem or handle 

here to the old Brudian. Baedd, of the pike made of tough crab- tree. 
a boar ; Richard III. so called. A 40. Edryd wen, the mother of 

boar was one of the supporters of the Grufydd Ieuan Llwyd. 
royal arms of Richard. 



LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Addwyn yw o Ddinawal, 

O Waithvoed hen, wythved tal ; 

O Ronwy, heb arwain hud, 

Ac o'r Dwns, gwyrda unsud. 52 

Grufydd mae 't beunydd benwn, 

A gwawr deg o ry w y Dvvn ; 

Gwna gofa is Gwaun geufordd, 

Y gwareu a wnaeth gwyr y Nordd ; 56 

Myn weled rh'om, yn ol trin, 

Obry wyneb y brenin ; 

A bydd Grufydd yn gorphol, 

Ysgwier hir ar Siecr Rol ; 60 

Ac aros ysgwierwisg, 

A chymer goler a gwisg. 

49. o Ddynaical, Mawd was de- oG. ywyr y Nordd, North Britons, 

scended from C.'adivor ab Dyniawol, the opponents of Henry VII. 

who scaled Cardigan castle ; and also 60. ar Siecr Rol, upon the exche- 

from Gwaithvoed of Ceredigion; from qner roll. Query, Grufydd's name 

Gronwy ; and from the Donnes of may have been upon the roll among 

Kidwelly. Grufydd Ieuan Llwyd others who were to be preferred to 

was also descended from the last fa- honour? 
mily. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 483 

VII. 

I WILYM GWENT, RHYVELWR I IASPER IARLL PENVRO. 



Gwilym is extolled for his unflinching loyalty to king Henry VI., and 
also for the bravery displayed by him in the wars with France. And judging 
from the poem, Gwilym's fame as a warrior must have been well known 
throughout France, as well as in his native country. He is ranked, by the 
bard, on the score of bravery, and his skill in arms, with his friend and com- 
peer Matthew Gough so celebrated in history. 



Y gwr vu 'n nerthu 'r Goron, 

O Loegr hwnt ar ael gwyr Rhon ; 

Bendith canmil i Wilym, 

Barti i'r larll Herbart rym ; 4 

Beli hir gwenithdir Gwent, 

Blodeuyn o bobl dwy-Went. 

Pand teg lie mae anrheg ym, 

Bod elw y byd i Wilym ; 8 

Bod teml Ieuan ab Tomas, 

Bod ei air oil, bod ei ras. 

Cravanc Gwilym ab Siancyn 

Yw 'r Haw a gaed i'r Hew gwyn ; l 'l 

O Lywelyn ab Gwilym, 

Ac o wraidd Morgan wg rym. 

Mor wrawl y mae 'r eryr, 

A Hew gwyllt yn llywiaw gwyr ! \0 

Pa vyd bynag, myn Iago ! 

Ar vy iaith yn hir a vo ; 

Ai byd heddwch enyd awr, 

Ai travaelvyd rhyvelvawr ; 20 



VII. Addressed to Gwilym Gwent, and of course an opponent to "Jasper 

an officer under Jasper earl of Pern- Tudor ; so that Barti must mean 

broke. here a warrior fit to oppose the power 

4. Barti i'r farll, Herbert earl of of Herbert. 
Pembroke was a Yorkist to the last, 



484 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Nid a'r byd i gyd ar gam, 

A'i reolaeth ar Wiliam. 

Ev a vu 'n rhyvelu 'n Rhon, 

Ar draws gwyr dros y goron ; 24 

A phan vu ev a'i luoedd 

Yn Frainc, mwyav un-fair oedd. 

Y vo gedwis ei vyvvyd 

I Vathew Goch vyth i gyd : 28 

Yno ill dau ni neillduynt 

I roi y gad i wyr gynt. 

I'r gad vlaen y Siarlmaeu sant, 

Ar ei ail ydd ai Rolant ; 32 

IV gad y bai vwya V gwaith, 

Yr ai Wiliam yr eilwaith. 

O bai ar Si as per daro, 

Trwy vil y t'rawai vo ; 36 

Cyvlawn hyny a ddaw 'n dda 

O gywirdeb yw 'r gwrda. 

Cywir a chynnil Wilym 

Yw i un Duw o vlaen dim ; 40 

IV goron, rywiawg eryr, 

Vry i Iarll Penvro a'i wyr. 

E vu gadben i'r brenin 

Ar gan' trev ; ar ugain trin. 44 

Yn Frainc, myn Eglwys Sain Fraid ! 

Y bu tano Gapteniaid ; 
AH Drymper a'i vaner vo, 

O'i vlaen ev a'i lu yno ; 48 

A'i veirch wrth gyvriv ei wart, 

A'i vwaau yn mhob Vowart ; 

A'i wyr arvawg yn wrol, 

A'i weywyr on ar ei ol ; 52 

2 1 . Nid a V byd, &c. " the world served together in the French wars, 

would not entirely go wrong, pro- 47- A'i Drymper, " and his trum- 

vided its government was entrusted peter." 

to Gwilym." 52. Gweywyr on, lancers, spear- 

28. / Vathew Goch,G wilym G went men. The long handles of the spears 

and Matthew Goch or Gough, the were made of on ; that is, of tough 

celebrated warrior slain in the tumult ash wood, 
of Jack Cade, were intimate, and 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 485 

Ac yntau Farchog antur 
Wedi ei doi drosto a dur. 

bryd, neu vaint, brawd un vam, 

1 Droilus yw Mastr Wiliam ; 56 

Y vo ydyw hen Vedwyr, 

Neu Hector Gwent, yn cadw gwyr ; 

Ceidwad ar dir Frainc ydoedd, 

Cadw 'r iawn yn eu cad yr oedd. 60 

Ev a gedwis y trevydd, 

A'r tyrau hwnt a'r tir rhydd ; 

Y vo a'm cad wo rhag cam, 

Teilo a gat wo Wiliam. 64 



486 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

VIII. 

MOLIANT HENRI AB GWILYM. 



The poem opens with a prayer for the prosperity of prince Edward, whom 
the bard designates as the duke of Cornwall. After this, William, Henry's 
father, is introduced, whom the bard calls the earl of Gwent, mentioning' him 
as an adherent to the prince. He speaks highly of the integrity of lord Wil- 
liam, and also of that of his son Henry. He next mentions that a bill of 
attainder was however lodged against Henry through the instrumentality of 
some false accusers ; and he prays that he may be enabled to clear himself of 
the foul charge. The bard then gives a vivid description of Envy ; and also 
of the influence money had over the minds of wicked and treacherous men. 
The poem concludes by the bard expressing, in strong terms, his firm belief 
of Henry finally getting the better of his accusers ; and rejoices at the thought 
of his friends rallying around him to see him righted. 



Iesu gwyn i wisgo ei art; 

A geidw y t'wysawg Edvvart ; 

Un y\v yn min y naw raor, 

Un prins yn hap ar Winsor ; 4 

Iarll yw vo gerllavv y Val 

Yn Nghernyw, Dug yn Nghornwal. 

Iarll o Went arall aeth, 

Yn oes hwn i'w wasanaeth ; 8 

Iarll Wiliarn, drwyV llu aliwns, 

Ydyw 'r iarll a dery ei tons. 

Eppil yr arglwydd Wiliam 

Ni chordia gair, ni chred gam ; J 2 

Ei dad ni chredai un dyn, 

Ar Harri a\'r bar hirvvyn. 

Provi athrawd Henri hael, 

Y bu williaid heb allael. \Q 



VIII. A poem in praise of Henry the title of the earl of Gwent. He 
ah Gwilym. It is not known who may have been the Gwilym Gwent 
Gwilym was, to whom the bard gives of the last poem. 



Y DOSFARTH VJII. 487 

Swydd Diawl, mor varwawl yvv vo, 

Dwyn athrawd ! Duw a'i nertho ! 

Bil ar Henri ab Gwilym, 

Bil oedd ev nid abl o ddim ; 20 

Ac un bil y gwnawn na bai 

Eich byw eilwaith a'ch biliau. 

Yno ydd oedd un neu ddau 

Ym mro Gaer, mawr eu geiriau ; 24 

Yn ei ol, yn valcha' neb, 

Yn wan iawn yn ei wyneb. 

Gwan a vag y genvigen, 

Gwanwr byth nis gwna ar ben ; 28 

A vo gwan genvigenwr, 

Hir yn was, a hwyr yn wr ; 

Calon pob gwr avlonydd 

Cneuen y genvigen vydd ; 32 

Curaw 'r ais val cyrau 'r 6g, 

Cnoi y cylla cnocellog ; 

Yn dan yr a. dan yr en, 

Ac yn vwg y genvigen ; 30 

Ac yn grin iawn gan y gred, 

Ac a lysg val golosged ; 

Camp hen genvigen, ar ver, 

Cnoi galon cyn y gweler ; 40 

Llanw bron er lluniaw braw, 

A llosgi val cell o ysgaw ; 

Ar Iesu mae rhanu rhod 

Ac o gythrael goeg athrod. 4\ 

Y 11 u diawliaid lie delynt 

A vagen' genvigen gynt ; 

O, Dduw ! beth o dda batbawl 

A wna i ddyn ymroi i Ddiawl ? 48 

O redeg, mor ddewr ydyw, 

Henri aeth i ben y rhiw ; 

Oddyno hwnt ydd a 'n hy, 

Di ddowt y daw o ddeutu. 52 

18. Duw aH nertho, " May heaven 30. Golosged, see Di'.W. O. Pughe's 

prove his innocence !" Diet. 

24. Ym mro Gaer =^Gaervyrddin. 



488 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Vy ngobaith, yn vy ngwybod, 

Ydd a yn uwch o ddau nod ; 

Er bod rhai yn athrodwyr, 

Pa ry w gyrf wyr pwy ywV gwyr ? 56 

Er athrod o wyr wythrent, 

Harri a'r iarli hir o Went ; 

Mae 'r drev gyda'r pendevig, 

Mae rhan dda ; mae rhai yn ddig ; 6*0 

Mae ei allu yma wellwell, 

Maent hwy ? n waeth ; mae yntau 'n well. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 489 



IX. 



I NICOLAS AB GRUFYDD AB RHYS, O GROES OSWALLT, 
GWRENG O GORON Y BRENTN HARRI VI. 



The bard alludes to Nicholas ab Grufydd's dress worn by him as yeoman 
of the crown — Compliments him on his fine crop of hair, and the stateliness 
of his person. He compares him as to stature, as well as to the beautiful 
symmetry of his person, to several illustrious individuals of the olden time. 
The poet also represents Grufydd as being in affluent circumstances. 



Y Hew biau 'r pryd a'r llun 

O Hiraethog a Rhuthyn ; 

Aur a wisg, ar ei ysgwydd, 

Nicolas hael yn cael swydd ; 4 

Ab Grufydd, ddeurudd wrol, 

Ab Rhys ni ad gamp ar ol ; 

Unben yw "n llys y brenin 

O vonedd Gwynedd y gwin ; 8 

Gwr yw a ddyg, hardd ei wallt, 

Gair Siason i Groes Os wallt : 

Mae Nicolas gorf Siason 

Un wallt a Dewi ab Non. 12 

A^i bod, i 'm bywyd ! i wr 

A bryd trahael Bortreiwr ; 

Llun Gwalchmai a bortreiwn 

Ar y Hen hir a llun hwn. \6 

Ei vesur brawd i Voesen 

Ydd wyv a hyd Addav hen ; 



IX. Addressed to Nicholas ab of Clwyd. The poet Grufydd Hir- 
Grufydd ab Rhys, of Oswestry, one aethog was of this tract. The patri- 
ot the yeomen of the crown to otic Owain Myvyr was born and 
Henry VI ; now called yeomen of bred in the bosom of Hiraethog. 
the Guard. Hiraethog and Berwyn are the most 

2. Hiraethog, the hilly tract from extensive tracts of mountains in North 

the Conway at Llanrwst to the vale Wales. 

K k 



490 LEWIS GLYN COTHI, 

Hyd tri o veibion Priav 

Ar gorf yr eryr a gav. 20 

Y gwr hael, gorau o hyd, 
I ddau eraill a ddeiryd ; 

I Vran ab Llyr, pan vu 'r iaith, 

Arall ydoedd Lyr Llediaith. 24 

Ai gwaeth Nicolas no's gwyr, 

Y gwr mawr a grym eryr ? 

Gwell vydd Gasgwin no gwin gwan, 

Ac aur vydd gwell nog arian ; 28 

Nicolas a gavas gorf 

Do ungamp, nid o wangorf ; 

Hwnw vydd berchen bwa, 

I hwnw y daeth enw da. 32 

Y saeth aur a ddyg vy sant, 
A'i bwrw a'r bwa arian t ; 
Bwrw ydd wyv innau 'n barod 

I'r Hew glan arall o glod. 36 

Aur a gav, er eu govyn, 

Sul a gwyl gan Sisli gwyn ; 

Yr un verch, orau yn v'oes, 

Gyda hwn a geidw ei heinioes; 40 

Llin Rhobert, (myn bedd Lloniaw !) 

Salter, haul dros y wlad draw. 

Mwy a roes yn mro Oswallt, 

Mwy o aur rhudd no'r mor hallt; 44 

Mwy o win no lliv Menai, 

Un da o'i Haw Pn, nid llai : * 

Merch yw Sisli i'r trihael, 

A hon yw mam Ivor Hael ; 48 

Mab yw Nicolas i'r medd ; 

A nai 'r gwin yn nhir Gwynedd ; 

Nith yw hon rhoddion rhuddaur, 

Eithr ev y w ewythr i'r aur. 52 



38. Sisli gwyn (wen), Cicely Salter. 41. Llin Rhobert, &c. Robert 

It does not appear from the poem Salter of Oswestry. The name is still 

whether she was the wife of, or sister preserved in that town, 
to, Nicholas ab Grufydd. 



* 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 491 

Pan welwn hwn a bono, 

E welid im' olud Io. 

Gwnaeth Nicolas iV nasiwn 

Urddas hir ar ddewis hwn. 56 

Coron aur a ddyg Harri, 

Y cywir hwn a'i car hi ; 

A choron ar lun hono, 

CTr un vath a arwain vo. 60 

Duw nev, a Dewi a Non, 

A geidw 'r gwr gyda 'r goron. 



54. Io = Job. the crown being borne, tas and badge, 

55. nashvn, a tribe, family ; a na- by Nicholas ab Grufydd as a yeoman 
tion. of the crown. 

59. A choron, &c. An allusion to 



K k 2 



492 



LEWIS GLYK COTHI. 



X. 



MARWNAD EDMWNT, IARLL R1SMWNT. 



The death of Edmund introduced — Edmund mentioned as being the bro- 
ther of Jasper Tudor and son of Owen Tudor — Owen Tudor said to be 
greatly affected on account of his son's death — Edmund's armorial bearings 
described — an allusion to the grave — Edmund said to be a lover of peace — 
mentioned as being (half) brother to Henry VI — a description of the sad 
loss which the country sustained by his death — he is said to have been buried 
at Cwrt y Brodyr, or the monastery of Grey Friars. After mentioning this 
circumstance, the bard proceeds in praise of Edmund ; describing, at the same 
time, what state the country was in, in consequence of his death. 



Cymmry yn gaeth a aethant, 
Yn rhydd rhyvv ddydd ydd oeddynt; 
Pob Cymmro oV do hyd Went, 
Aed ymaith wedi Emwnt. 

Emwnt Iarll Ristmwnt Duw a - ! rhoes iddynt, 
Duw a ddyg ei einioes ; 

Dduw ! pa'm na roi ddwyoes 

1 deyrn ? neu draian oes ? 



X. An elegy upon Edmund earl 
of Richmond. 

Edmond son of Owain Tudur or 
Tudor, by Catherine (the queen 
dowager and mother to Henry VI.) 
daughter to Charles VI. king of 
France, was born at Hadham. Be- 
fore he was created earl of Rich- 
mond, on 23rd November, 1453, he 
was generally called Edmund of Had- 
ham. He married Margaret daugh- 
ter and heir of John Beaufort duke 
of Somerset ; and they had one son 
Henry, the afterwards Henry VII. 
He died in the prime of life, 3rd of 
November, 1456 He was buried first 



in Cwrt y Brodyr, or the monastery 
of the Grey Friars at Caermarthen. 
On the dissolution of which, his 
grandson Henry VIII. ordered the 
body to be removed, and re-interred 
in the area of the chancel of the 
cathedral at St. David's, where his 
tomb is still shewn. It bore for- 
merly his effigy and various escut- 
cheons, and other ornaments in brass, 
which were removed by the parlia- 
mentarians of the 17 th century, who 
stripped the cathedral of many of its 
costly decorations. Lewis's Top. Diet, 
of Wales. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 



493 



Nid oes i neb oes wrth bwyso ei vryd 

Am vrawd arglwydd Penvro ; 

Owain Tudur yn curio 

Am ei vab y mae e vo. 12 

Evo heb Iwyddo o'n blaen yn deilwng, 

A'n dyg dylwyth Brytaen ; 

Ar ol am \vyr Iarl-y-maen 

Yr ydym ar a adwaen. 16 

Adwaen ddri'r pen, gwerth punoedd i dlawd, 

Am Flwr d 'lis brenhinoedd ; 

Tair saled ar darged oedd, 

A thri edn a tharw ydoedd. 20 

Y Tarw a'r Ceiliog o'r tiredd oil gynt 
A'r Llew gwyn o'r Gogledd ; 

A'i gwenol, Owain Gwynedd, 

eitha'r byd aeth i'r bedd. 24 

Y mae'r bedd val amryw bwll, 

Y mae'r byd yma ar ball ; 

Y mae'r och, ac nid mawr well ; 

Y mae'r wae drwy Gymmru oil. 28 

Gwae Gymmry, hy hwnt ; gorphen ein Grifwnt; 

Emwnt Iarll Ristmwnt, a garai hedd ; 

Duw a roddes dau o ieirll dan un iau, 

Un o'r ddau orau aeth i orwedd. 32 

Brawd Henri vrenin, nai ab chwaer Dwlphin, 
Mab Owain o lin meibion y wledd ; 



11. Owain Tudur, commonly called History, p. 463, the arms of Edmund 

Owen Tudor, was the lord of Pen- of Hadham are thus read : namely, 

mynydd, in Anglesey. See an ac- " France and England quarterly, a 

count of him in the Cambrian Bio- bordure azure charged with fleurs-de- 

graphy; and his pedigree in Cam bro- lis and martlets or;" but from our 

Briton, vol. i. pp. 456, 457 ; and also poet, who does not blazon the shield, 

in the Appendix to Wynne's History we learn that the shield was charged 

of Wales. with fleurs-de-lis, three helmets, thi-ee 

18-20. Am Flwr dlis, &c. Ac- birds, and a bull, 
cording to Heilyn's Help to English 

k k 3 



494 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Tori, 'n mhob taren, i bob dyn ei ben ; 

Oedd ddri derwen o ben bonedd. 36 

Tori 'r byd tervvyn y dydd y bu dyn 

Yw tori Uinyn tir holl Wynedd ; 

Dydd dig, a dydd du, a vydd ac a vu ; 

Darvu ein bylchu am ein balchedd. 40 

Ein tyb o vewn twr gynt y'n tynai *r gwr, 

Y Hew o Dewdwr o'n halltudedd ; 

Dim gobaith weithian nid oes, val yn dan, 

Onid darogan hain a drygedd. 44 

Uchel yw ochain, a lliv a llevain, 

Yma 'n y Dwyrain a Mon diredd ; 

A gwaed ac udaw, a gwenwyn gwynaw, 

A newydd wylaw yn ddialedd. 48 

Galwer heb galon, vry weithian Vrython ; 

Alltudion moelion y'ngwlad y medd ; 

Ydd ym oil yn ddig, yn bren heb un brig, 

Heb wreiddiau orig heb ryw ddewredd. 52 

Nid forest ryvviog heb goed bagadog, 

Nid marchog arvog heb glog, heb gledd ; 

Nid dyn, dyn o daw, a ddel heb ddwylaw, 

Nid Haw i bwysaw heb y bysedd. 56 

Heb law, heb lywiwr yr ym bob rhyw wr, 

Heb vilwr o wr a thrugaredd ; 

Heb lin brenhinol yma 'r ym ar ol, 

Heb urddol breiniol heb wirionedd. 60 

Aeth a vro Ieithon ryw vwg hyd ar Von 

Aeth Brython gwirion yn eu gorwedd ; 

Aeth Lloegr yn goegryd, aeth Frainc vyth o'i phryd, 

Aeth Cymmry y gyd o'r byd Tr bedd. 64 

35. Tori y n mhob taren, " To cut peak, as Taren fair taren, a three- 
off in every spot." Taren, a spot or peaked mountain, north of Penal, in 
place; any spot of ground: also a Meirionethshire. 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 495 

Ei vedd a wnaethpwyd yn vur 

Yn Mynyw o vaen mynor ; 

Meddrod sy 'n Nghwrt-y-13rodyr, 

Yn ei veddrod y dodir, 

Y doded yr hen Dewdwr ! 68 

Llywiwr o Dewdwr ar dudwedd ei vrawd, 

Ev a roed i orwedd ; 

Llyna 'r byd yn llenwi V bedd, 

A llyna 'r iarll o Wynedd. 72 

I Wynedd nid oedd ddim dewiniaeth 

O waith rhyw deulu, eithr hudoliaeth ; 

O niwl yr oedd varddoniaeth draw 

Wedi ei eiliaw 'n brophwydoliaeth. 76 

E rodded yn iarll val chwaryddiaeth, 

Hwnw a ddycpwyd o'r vrenhiniaeth ; 

Iarll Cymmro evo oedd uchaviaeth hwnt, 

Emwnt lord Ritsmwnt oedd yn nglan traeth. 80 

Iarll ac amherodr pob llywodraeth ; 

Eurlliw a wisgodd yn mhob iarllaeth ; 

Angau i'r Deau, deuwaeth no thrais raor, 

Vu ar yr elor ei varwolaeth. 34 

Mae 'n varw 'n rhygarw, 'dd ym ninnau yn rhygaeth ; 

Mae 'r diaiau brithion yn feilsion faeth ; 

Mae 'n wag ein ystdg megys dugiaeth vry, 

Mae Cymmru 'n wagty, 'dd ym ninnau 'n waeth. 88 

Gwag tir a welir heb reolaeth, 

Gwag ty heb wely a maboliaeth, 

Gwag trev heb blasau, gwag traeth heb ddyvredd ; 

Gwag annedd heb wledd, heb vedd, heb vaeth. 92 



86. disiau, pi. of dis, a dice. ganau of the Welsh bards, who might 

87. ystdg, a stake in a game of have predicted favourably of Edmund 
dice. The expressions disiau and Tudor. 

ystdg allude to the Brutian and daro- 

k k 4 



496 LEWIS GLYN C0TH1. 

Gwag Llan heb Brelad, heb geidwadaeth, 

Gwag twr heb sawdiwr, a bwa a saeth ; 

Gwag aelwyd heb vwg, a gwaeth vydd heb dan, 

Gwag gwladan lydan heb ddeiliadaeth. 96 

Mae Lloegr yn wag, a'm llygru a wnaeth, 

Mae "n wagach Cymmru oV mynegiaeth ; 

Mae Frainc yn wag iawn am fraeth vlodeuyn, 

Mae Prydyn derwyn heb blaidwriaeth. 100 

Rhoed yn Mrytaen ddraen, drwyddi yr aeth ; 
Rhoed dolur, rhoed cur, rhoed deg hiraeth ; 
Rhoed Uin, rhoed egin waedogaeth blaenawr 
Rhodri Mawr i lawr o'i vilwriaeth. 104 

Yn iach gant hebog a marchogaeth, 

Yn iach naw czmser, amser a aeth ; 

Yn iach Cymmru, iach eurychiaeth falsedd, 

Yn iach ein bonedd na chawn benaeth. 108 

Yn iach i venthyg pendevigaeth, 

Yn iach lawenydd, yn iach luniaeth ; 

Yn iach ! y Brython aeth i vethu ; 

Yn iach gzvncwera, gwlad Gymmru gaeth ! 112 

99. myneyiaeth, see Dr. W. O. Pughe's Diet. 






Y DOSPARTH VIII. 497 

XI. 

PR BRENIN HARRI VII. 



This ode opens with an acknowledgment to the Divine Providence for 
Henry's success ; and also with a wish that the same Providence would grant 
him a long and prosperous reign. The poet, in the next place, passes an 
eulogium on Jasper Tudor, under the title of the duke of Bedford ; and 
alludes to his landing with Henry at Milford. He then mentions that the 
country generally, as well as the greater portion of Ireland, had already 
acknowledged Henry as their king. And alluding to the return of Rhys ab 
Tewdwr from his exile in Brittany to claim the sovereignty of South Wales, 
in which he succeeded, takes an opportunity of complimenting Henry under 
the title of Rhys. He speaks of Henry as being now firmly fixed on his 
throne ; and next to him in dignity and power the bard places his patron 
Jasper Tudor, whom in this ode he greatly extols. After this, he gives 
an outline of Henry's noble descent, mentions his creating twelve knights 
banneret, and the peaceable manner in which he was crowned. 



Duw dodesjbrtun, do ; doded hirhoedl 

I'r King Harri seithved ; 

Da y g^yr wedi gwared 

Dynu 'r groes a'i dwyn i'r Gred. 4 

Trwy Gred tair saled vu 'n seilio siasau 

Sywlius Sesar Penvro ; 

Tarw Mon a i'r tir y myno, 

Troia vawr anturiai vo. 8 

Evo iarll Penvro rhag pob hort a dig, 

Siaspar Dug o Bedfort ; 

Ei nai ev aeth a'r hen vort 

Gron hapus, wrth gaer Newport. 12 

Milfort, a Newport, a gwlad Non ! dyn hir, 
Dan Harri a i goron ; 

XI. An ode addressed to king 9. hort, a hurt, an injury. 

Henry VII. **• ^ en vori > & c * Arthur's round 

6. Sywlius Sesar, Julius Caesar, a table at Caerlion, near Newport, 
title of compliment to Jasper Tudor. 



498 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

MaeV Nordd, pum rhan y Werddon, 

A Deau "n fest dan ei fon. 16 

Ei ddwy fon linon drwy *r Vel ynys aeth, 

A sel Uthr ac Emrys ; 

Da o'r dwr, i dir dyrys, 

Droi rhan o Dewdvvr a Rhys. 20 

Rhyw Rys drwy 'r ynys a dry an war gwag, 

Is gwegil y ddaiar ; 

Rheoli gwyllt, arail gwar, 

Sy o yspwys i Siaspar. 24 

Siaspar, King' Henri o ddaiar Ddewi 

Wedi eu geni o reial gainc ; 

lin brenhiniaeth, o ail waedoliaeth, 

Henri evo aeth hwnw ar vainc. '28 

Pembrwg golwg cawr doe a aeth, ni'm dawr, 

Rhyw Lew adeilvawr ar ail dalvainc ; 

Hwnt Harri yw 'n tarw, a da a diarw, 

Ev vry yw 'n hen garw o vrenhingainc. 32 

Doed daiar a dwr ar dud rhyw Dewdwr 

myn y ddeuwr dim in" ddiainc ; 

Rhiver Lloegr hevyd Tr rhai'n hir enyd, 

A muriau a fryd Cynimru a Frainc. 36 

Nawllu ni allant un corf o nawcant, 

Neu o benau gant, neu bin ac a inc; 

Oil weithio "n un llythr o iarllaeth eurllythr, 

Waith nai, a"i ewythr vyth yn ieuainc. 10 

Yn ieuanc a hen, yn niwedd vy oed ; 

In* y rhoed anrhydedd ; 

A daw rhoed i gadw "r hedd 

Darogan draig Wynedd, 44 

20. Tewdwr a Rhys, see Rhys ah or consequence. 
Tewdwr, in the Camb. Biog. 36. fryd, pi. of frwd. 

24. yspwys, a matter of some weight 



Y DOSPARTH VIII. 499 

Mil yw o Wynedd, wr moliannus, 

Adar a tharw o waed Arthurus ; 

Goludawg vrenin o gorf Gwladus Ddu ; 

A deryw dynu o Dardanus. 48 

Aeth a'r het alawnt wrth air Twlius, 

A mawr lawenydd gair Merlinius ; 

A gwr ydyw sy gariadus a theg, 

A'i wyr yw deuddeg anrhydeddus. 52 

Henri o Beli nid govalus, 

Henri y w brenin yn nhir Brenius ; 

Hevyd trwy y byd gwybodus yr aeth, 

Hwn a gwroliaeth hen Garolus. 56 

Llin o Garedig a Haw 'n gariadus, 

Llin gwr o nawosgl llin Gorineus ; 

Llin Dardan tarian tawrus tair talaith, 

Llin Troia eilwaith a llin Troilus. 60 

Un dyn Recort seithved Henricus, 
Yw 'r tarw dewrdeg o'r tri Edwardus ; 



47. Gwladus Ddu (Dosp. I. 23.), who, in his accession to the throne, 

Henry VII. said to be descended beheld the blood of their ancient 

from Gwladus Ddu. princes restored to the sovereignty of 

49. htt, a heat ; a course at a race. Britain, might be more securely relied 

52. AH wyr, &c. " A. D. 1485. on than even those of the victorious 
Preparations were made for Henry's Lancastrians, he appointed, in 1485, 
coronation. In order to heighten the fifty yeomen, the highest of their 
splendour of that spectacle, he be- rank, to form a corps of archers, prin- 
stowed the rank of knight-banneret cipally Welshmen, under the com- 
on twelve persons ; and he conferred mand of John de Vere, earl of Ox- 
peerages on three. Jasper earl of ford, as their captain, to protect his 
Pembroke, his uncle, was created person ; and styled them the Yeomen 
duke of Bedford ; Thomas lord Stan- of the Guard. 

ley his father-in-law, earl of Derby ; Imitating the example, Henry VIII. 

and Edward Courteney, earl of De- also formed a body-guard of gentle- 

vonshire. At the coronation likewise men, who were called, until the late 

there appeared a new institution, reign, Gentlemen Pensioners. These 

which the king had established for were mounted, and, in accordance 

security as well as pomp, a band of with their rank, armed with lances, 

fifty archers, who were termed yeo • " every of them to have an archer, a 

men of the guard.'''' Hume. demi-lance, and a custrell," as well as 

The example which the policy of " three great horses," being placed 

Louis XL of France, in establishing a under the command of the earl of 

body-guard of Scottish archers, who, Essex, as captain, and sir John Pechie, 

dependant on him, would be interested as lieutenant." Sir Samuel R. Mey- 

in the protection of his person, was rick, K. H. 
not lost on Henry VII. Well aware 56. hen Garolus, Charlemagne, 

that the faithful services of the Welsh, 



500 LEWIS GLYN COTHI. 

Y wadd a yrodd yn weddus Tr rhwyd, 

Y dydd y hypiwyd a oedd hapus. 64 

Hap yw i wrda gael Lipardus, 

A deulew wynion tad Alanus ; 

A Hew Dewdwr raewn gwn llys o lir, 

A byw yn negtir Albanactus. 68 

Henw y patrwn o hwn yw Petrus, 

Yr ail piler ar ol yw Powlus ; 

Andras, Mathias, Matheus, Machraith ; 

A'u croesaw eilwaith rhag car Sawlus. 72 









Yngo 'n y fyddin dangnevyddus 

Coroned Harri carw anturus ; 

Braint Gwyl yr Holl Saint rhag rhus y blaned, 

Y hail goroned hil Locrinus. 76 

Y deyrnas isod drwy enw Siesus 
Sy i'r King Harri rhyswr cynghorus ; 
Oddyna ydd a drwy 'r ddawnus vreniniaeth, 

Y ceidw lywodraeth Cadwaladrus. 80 

Evo yw 'r atteg hir o Vrutus, 

Ev wedi Sely v o waed Silius ; 

O ddynion Troia, lwyddiannus vonedd, 

Ac o ais Gwynedd ac Ysganus. 84 






O Ysganus ais Gynan 

Yn breiniwyd ein brenin ; 

O Droia vawr draw i Von 

Dewr a phert draw yw 'r fortun. 88 

72. Machraith, a saint to whom shire. Festival, January . Bees' s 
are dedicated Llanvachraith, Angle- Welsh Saints, 
sey; and Llanvachraith, Meirioneth- 



GLOSSARY. 



VRYW, 1. xxv. 37. 
Aig marwar, I. xviii. 52. 
Alwyn, I. xviii. 5. 
Amadlaes, I. v. 13* 
Amler, IV. ix. 38. 
Amlys, VIII. v. 27- 
Ancr, III. xxx. 10. 
Anrhaith, I. xvii. 39. 
Ardemlu, I. xxix. 37. 
As, II. viii. 64. 
Awgrym, IV. xiii. 54. 

B. 
Banau, I. xxxviii. 19. 
Barbed, V. i. 39. 
Barrs, gwareu, IV. xxiii. 20. 
Basarn, I. xxv. 48. 
Blaenidl, IV. i. 13. 
B61, IV. xii. 20. 
Brigawndr, II. viii. 20. 
Bryvai Sel, III. xxix. 5. 
Bwngernart, I. xxxii. 51. 
Bwned, V. xiv. 38. 
Bwnswgr, I. xxxii. 52. 
Bwrdios, III. xxvii. 37- 
Byda, III. xviii. 35. 

C. 
Cadair, I. i. 35. 
Cadas, III. vii. 22. 
Cae, VII. viii. 33. 
Caith, I. xviii. 89. 
Canaid, I. xxvi. 45. 
Canel, I. iv. 59. 
Capan, V. i. 43. 
Capan Pan, IV. xxiv. 13. 
Caregl, II. viii. 24. 
Carvil, I. xxx. 32. 
Carl, I. viii. 21. 
Caterw, III. xviii. 57- 
Cegid, II. x. 47. 
Clariwn, 111. xxvi. 35. 
CKr, IV. i. 48. 



Clos, I. xi. 31. xxxv. 2G. 
C15s, I. vii. 5. 

Clds, I. xiv. 14. ; IV. xx. 32. 
Closiaw, IV. xviii. 54. 
Coler, I. xiv. 17. 
Corbedwyn, III. xix. 27. 
Corsiet, I. xviii. 120. ; V. i. 46. 
Cotarmur, I. xxiv. 15. 
Croes naid, I. xx. 2. III. xxii. 15. 
Croes Owmal, IV. xxii. 41. 
Cronig, IV. ii. 47. 
Curas gwyu, I. vi. 19. 
Cwnsallt, IV. xiii. 13. 
Cwnstabl, III. xxv. 8. 
Cwpwrt, I. xxix. 49. 
Cwrser, I. ix. 9. 

D. 
Dewin, I. xxxiii. 51. 
Divandvor, I. xxx. 38. 
Digrynwraidd, I. xxix. 29. 
Diranu, III. xxii. 11. 
Dis, I. xxiii. 23. ; V. v. 2. 
Disiau, I. xxiii. 23. 
D&el, IV. xxi. 18. 
Dwned, IV. v. 21. 
Dwsed, III. xxvii. 40. 
Dydechwr, VIII. ii. 17- 

E. 
Eiriol, I. xxxiii. 57. 
Ermid, II. ix. 41. 
Ern, III. xxiii. 34. 
Esau aur, II. vi. 34. 

V. 
Vaeart, IV. xx. 12. 
Vervain, IV. vii. 43. 
Veri, III. xxx. 24. 
Vernagl, I. xxx v. 25. 
Verneiswin, III. xxvii. 38. 
Vowart, I. xi. 15. 
Vyr, III. xxv. 6. 

F. 
Felaig, IV. v. 65. 



502 



GLOSSARY. 



Fis, V. vii. 40. 
Fon Glaiv, I. viii. 27. 
Frather, IV. i. 24. 
Fridd, VII. viii. 50. 

G. 
Gandleis, V. i. 50. 
Garlond, I. ix. 22. 
Garsiwn, I. xviii. 120. 
Gasgwin, III. xxvii. 38. 
Gilt, III. ii. 54. 
Gogleddwawr, IV. vii. 15. 
Gorwyr, V. vi. 10. 
GosaAvg, I. iv. 41. 
Graens, IV. xix. 26. 
Greal, I. xxxiii. 1.; III. xxviii. 19. 
Grif, IV. xxviii. 50. 
Grwndwal, I. i. 40. 
Grwnt, III. xxv. 30. 
Guls, III. xxxii. 41. 
Gwardau, II. ii. 35. 
Gwardiaw, III. ix. 21. 
Gwarendaw, II. iv. 27- 
Gwasgwyn, I. xxvi. 46. 
Gwerwr, III. xix. 57. 
Gwin Dwsed, IV. v. 34. 
Gwin Gasgwin, I. xix. 44. 
Grwnt, III. xxv. 30. 
Gwreiddyn, IV. xxi. 8. 
Gwrhyd, III. viii. 62. 
Gwyddar, IV. xxi. 47- 
Gwystlaw, IV. xiv. 49. 
Gwythawr, III. xxxi. 39. 

H. 
Havawg, II. xi. 42. 
Hal, I. xxiii. 56. 
Harnais, IV. xxiv. 41. 
Herwa, II. ii. 18. 
Hoewal, I. xxvi. 16. 
Hwsmonaeth, III. x. 19. 

I. 
Iemyn, I. vii. 48. 
Isarn, V. v. 48. 
lyrchwys, IV. ii. 21. 

L. 
Lardies, V. vii. 50. 
Latimaur, I. vii. 7» 
Lindys, III. xxxiv. 12. 
Lir, I. i. 46. VII. iv. 59. 
Lutenant, I. xxii. 51. 



LL. 

Llaswyr, I. xxxi. 14. 
Lleianaeth, III. xx. 3. 
Ller, III. xi. 16. 
Llaswyr, [. xxxi. 14. 

M. 
Maels, III. xv. 51. 
Maen Cornel, I. iv. 21. 
Makfast, V. i. 37- 
Malmsai, III. xxvii. 34. 
Maner, I. xix. 21. 
Manwel, I. iv. 50. 
Medd, III. xix. 23. 
Meddyglyn, III. xix. 23. 
Medleilas, VII. ii. 43. 
Melan, I. viii. 17- 
Men, I. xxxvii. 33. 
Milain, I. xxii. 22. 
Morach, IV. xx. 52. 
More, III. xix. 33. 
Mwsgadel, III. xxvii. 40. 
Mynag, III. ii. 49. 
Mynwair, V. i. 38. 

N. 
Naid, see Croes naid. 

O. 
Overwr, IV. xxiii. 31. 
Oraits, I. xvi. 4. 
Orymys, VII. iii. 48. 
Ot&, I. iv. 51. 

P. 
Paderau, I. xxxi. 13. 
Palisau, I. xxxviii. 40. 
Palmer, V. xv. 21. 
Pan, I. xx. 32. 
Panter, II. ii. 26. 
Parcer, I. xxxvi. 1 1. 
Penddar, I. xxxix. 53. 
Petrel, II. vi. 47. 
Portcullis = Dor derchavad, VIII. iii. 

13. 
Prelad, IV. xv. 55. 
Prenvol, I. vii. 37- 
Pwmparis, II. iii. 9. 

Q. 
Quies yn selys, VII. iii. 52. 

R. 
Reial, I. xxii. 15. 
Rheinswin, III. xxvii. 37. 



GLOSSARY. 



503 



Resgyw, II. vii. 57- 

Rial, aur, IV. xxvi. 27. 

Rhamant, I. xxii. 45. 

Rhest, III viii. 1. 

Rhiawlvedd, IV. i. 7- 

Rhidels, IV. xxiv. 47. 

Rhod, 1. xvi. 33. 

Rhossiel, I. xvi. 33.; III. xxvii. 34. 

Rhuwl, III. xv. 17. 

Rhydain, III. xxvii. 61. 

Rhygarw, 1. xxviii. 42.; IV. xvi. 19. 

Rhywl, III. v. 4. 

S. 
Savri, III. xviii. 16. 
Saled, I. xviii. 55. 
Sallwyr, I. xxxi. 15. 
Sax, I. xxiv. 24. 
Sens, I. i. 58. 
Sewer, 1. xix. 42. 

'Sgarmes, II. vii. 25. 

Siamlet, I. ix. 20. 

Siampler, III. ii. 25. 

Sias, I. vi. 11. 

Sidan, IV. vii. 35. 

Sieb, I. xxiii. 23. xxxiii. 23. 

Siecr, VIII. vi. 60. 

Siecrau, 1. xxxiii. 23. 

Sied, III. xiii. 48. 

Sies, V. v. 4. 

Simant, IV. xxii. 41. 

Sivys, III. xviii. 20. 

Sinobl, I. xxxiii. 12. 

Si rig, I. xxxiii. 25. 

Sis As, II. viii. 64. 

Sisedr, I. xvi. 27. 

Siswyr, I. viii. 50. 

SS, II. vi. 34. 



Statunion, II. iv. 58. ; IV. v. 52. 
Swllt, IV. xi. 6. 
Sythig, I. xi. 21. 

T. 

Tabler, V. v. 3. 
Tapin, VII. ii. 37. 
Taren, VIII. x. 35. 
Tassel, I. iv. 41. 
Teils, II. viii. 36. 
Tidach, IV. i. 58. 
Trai Cater, II. viii. 63. 
Traianu, IV. xxi. ii. 
Trulliaw, III. ix. 20. 
Trywlwv, VII. iii. 33. 
Tyrs, I. i. 53. 

U. 
Un-dis, I. xxxviii. 36. 
Usier, I. xix. 40. 

W. 

Wfin, I. xx. 47. 
Whitharnais, I. vi. 19. 

Y. 
Ymargio, I. xxiii. 3. 
Yni, III. xiii. 56. 
Ysgarmes, II. vii. 25. 
Ysgud, III. xxviii. 22. 
Ysgwier, III. iii. 7- 
Yspwys, VIII. xi. 24. 
Ystag, VIII. x. 87. 
Ystamin, I. xviii. 93. 
Ystasiwn, I. xxxv. 29. 
Ystent, I. viii. 5. 
Ystil, I. vii. 33. 
Ystiwart, III. iii. 13. 
Yswaetheroedd, I. xii. 15. 



INDEX 



OF 



PROPER NAMES. 



A. 
ABER Aeron, I. xxxvii. 38. 
Aber Arth, VII. ii. 22. 
Aber Dar, I. xviii. 42. 
Aber Hodni, I. ii. 17- 
Aber Ysgyr, II. i. 48. 
Aberdaron, VIII. iv. 23. 
Aberfraw, II. iii. 21. 
Abermarlais, If. iii. iv. xi. 
Aberpergwm, I. xxi v. xxv. 
Abertanad, V. ii. 8. iv. 
Aberystwyth, I. xx. xxi. 
Adar llwch gwin, V. iv. 24. 
Avallach, IV. xxii. 25. 
Avan, III. xxxiv. 1. 
Avarwy, VI. ii. 38. 
Ailvyw, III. xvii. 22. 
Alis Ronwen, III. xxiii. 49. 
Alo, VI. ii. 29. 
Amias, IV. xix. 25. 
Amlwch, IV. ii. 3. 
Amlyn ac Amig, IV. ii. 61 ; vii. 45. 
Andras, I. iv. 39. 
Anhap y Lleian, II. v. 25. 
Ann, saint, V. xiv. 21. 
Annell, III. xiii. IV. xi. 13. 
Antwn, sant, V. xii. 33. 
Anwig, I. xi. 44 ; II. iv. 39. 
Aravia, III. xix. 35. 
Arberth, II. i. 45. 
Arenig, I. xi. 45. 
Arm on, I. xix. 6. 
Arres or Arras, I. xxxi. 19. 
Arwystli, I. x. 40. 
Asa, I. xxxviii. 52 ; IV. x. 3. 
Asbi, I. xxiii. 29. 
Awstin, sant, IV. x. 6. 



B. 

Bachelldrev, III. xxxi. 

Baddon, I. xxxiv. 33. 

Baldassar, I. ix. 64. IV. xxvii. 35. 

Banasiel, I. iv. 39. 

Banau, I. xxxviii. 19. 

Banbri, I. vi. 3. 

Bedwyr, IV. xxi. 22. viii. 4.; V. ix. 

25. 
Bevus, VI. ii. 40. 
Beli, II. i. 92; III. xiv. 1. 
Beli ab Dyvnwal, V. v. 31. 
Belus, VII. x. 28. 
Bendigeidran, III. x. 24. 
Benedig, VII. x. 58. 
Berwig, I. xi. 32; II. iv. 39. 
Berwyn, I. xxxix. 31. 
Beuno, IV. xxi. 5. 
Blaen Tien, III. xvii. xix. xx. 
Bleddvach, I. xii. 
Bleddyn ab Maertarch, I. vii. 53. 
Bodwrog, I. xv. 50. 
Bonvil, lord Bonville, I. xxx. 53. 
Braint Hir, I. xxxiii. 36. 
Bran ab Llyr, III. x. 24. 
Bran verch Llyr, IV. vii. 33. 
Breiddin, 1. xi. 42. 
Bristo, I. iv. 27- 
Briwnaint, IV. xiii. 20. 
Brodorddyn, I. xxiii. 
Bronwen, III. xxiii. 46. 
Brossil, I. xxx. 27- 
Brutus Darian Las, IV. xix. 40. 
Brutus ab Sylvius I. xxviii. 33. 
Brwynllys, VII. iii. 56. 
Brychan, I. i. 5. 
Bryn Euryn, VII. x. 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



505 



Bryn Havod, III. v. vi. vii.; IV. xiii. 

43. 
Bryn Penardd, IV. xxv. 
Brynach, II. vii. 27. ; V. vi. 47. 
Brynach, St., V. vi. 47. 
Buallt, I. xvii. 34.; III. xxxiv. 1. 
Bwrdios, I. xxx. 29. 
Byrgwyn, III. xix. 53. 

C. 
Cadell, I. xxv. 56. 
Cadvan, V. ii. 57. 
Cadvarch, VI. iii. 49. 
Cadivor ab Dyniawol, VIII. vi. 49. 
Cadivor ab Selyv, IV. x. 14. 
Cadwaladr, III. xvi. 31. 
Cadwallon, III. xxvi. 26. 
Cadwallon ab Cadvan, I. xxxiii. 33. 
Cadwgawn, III. xxvi. 22. 
Caer Deivi, III. i. 74. 
Caer Dulyn, I. xvii. 30. 
Caer Dyv, IV. x. 16. 
Caer Einion, I. x. 39. III. xxvi. 36. 
Caer Fili, II. i. 108. 
Caer Gaint, I. vii. 44. 
Caer Gogyrvan, IV. viii. 28. 
Caer Gwydion, III. xxvii. 1. 
Caer Gyfin, VII. x. 34. 
Caer Lil, I. xxx. 39. 
Caer Lincol, I. xiv. 6. 
Caer Ludd, III. v. 8. 
CaerLyr, II. vii. 44. 
Caer Septon, IV. xvi. 41. 
Caer Swys, I. iv. 15. 
Caer Talgarth, I. xvii. 9. 
Caer Went, I. xxviii. 48. 
Caer Wyr, I. xxxv. 38. 
Caer Ystwyth, I. xxi. 1. 
Caerlleon ar Ddyvrdwy, V. vi. 
Caerllion, I. xvii. 38. 
Caerlyn, I. xvii. 38. 
Cai Hir, IV. ix. 15. 
Cain, IV. xviii. 4. 
Caio, III. ix. 15. xi. xii. IV. x. 
Camlan, III. xv. 43. 
Cantrev Mawr, II. ix. 38. 
Cantrev Selyv, I. xv. 6. 
Caradog, I. xv. 56. 
Cam Avan, HI. xxxii. 
Carno, V. xiii. 17- 



Carnwyllon, IV. xiii. 8. 

Caron, V. ix. 5. 

Castell Gwdrys, VII. iii. 57- 

Castell Gwys, IV. vii. 40. 

Castell Hywel, III. xxvii. xxix. 

Castell Moel, IV. xviii. 14. 

Castell Paen, I. xxiii. 30. 

Castil, I. xxx. 36. 

Catrin, St., IV. xii. 35. 

Cattraeth, II. ii. 50. 

Cawrdav, III. x. 54. 

Cawres, IV. ii. 51.; VI. ii. 1. 

Cedewain, I. x. 39. 

Cedwyn, I. ix. 75. 

Ceintun, I. vi. 32. 

Ceitho, IV. x. 49. 

Celynin, IV. x. 49. 

Cemais, I. xxxvii. 36. 

Cemmaes, V. xvi. 

Cenarth, V. viii. ix. xi. 

Ceredig, I. xxxvii. 31. 

Ceri, I. x. 40. 

Cethiniog, III. iv. 9. xiv. xxx. 

IV. iii. 
Cewydd, I. ii. 10. 
Cilvach W&n, III. xviii. 56. 
Cil Vai, I. xxxii. 43. 
Cilgwri, V. xv. 20. 
Cil Sant, IV. v. vi. 
Cil y Bebyll, I. xviii. 59. 
Cil y Cwm, IV. xxv. 14. 
Clas ar Wy, I. x. 11. 
Clegyrnant, V. xiii. 17- 
Cleirwy, IV. xx. 46. 
Cler ab Clwyd, III. iii. 7- 
Cler, St., I. xxxvii. 35. 
Coedmawr, V. xii. 42. 
Collwyn, I. xxv. 13. 
Colunwy, I. xvii. 1. 
Colwyn, IV. xxvii. 21. 
Constans ab Elen, I. xxi. 35. 
Conwy, I. xvii. 2. 
Craig Runa, IV. xxiv. 44. 
Craig Westyn, IV. xvi. 10. 
Cregynog, VI. v. i. 
Croes Oswallt, V. iii. v. 
Croes Owmal, IV. xxii. 41. 
Crugcaith, I. xxiv. 6. 
Cuhelyn, IV. x. 21.; V. iii. 7- 

l! 



506 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Cunedda Wledig, IV. ii. 48. 

Curig, St., I. vii. 28.; IV. i. 30. 

Custenin, l.xviii. 117. 

Cwlen, I. xvii. 22. 

Cwm Buga, VIII. ii. 27. 

Cwm Du, 1. xiii. 62. 

Cwrt Mynyw, III. xxx. 30. 

Cwyvan, III. x. 57. 

Cydwely, II. ii. 

Cyveiliog, I. x. 42. 

Cyvelach, V. vi. 45. 

Cymaron, II. iii. 29.; IV. xvi. 3. 

Cynvarch, II. v. 39.; IV. xviii. 52. 

Cynvelyn, II. v. 55. 

Cynvig, I. xi. 48. 

Cynin, I. xviii. 85. 

Cynllo, IV. xv. 1. 

Cynog, St., I. xv. 55. 

Cynwyl, IV. x. 47- 

Cyrys o Ial, I. xxxvii. 10. 



Chwitnai, 



Ch. 



D. 



Damasen, I. xxxii. 22. 
Devrasiaid, I. xiii. 32. 
Deivr, II. vii. 27. 
Deiniol, St., I. ix. 75. 
Dena, I. xvi. 29. 
Denis, St., I. ix. 75. 
Dervel, St., III. xv. 49. 
Derllys, I. xxxvii. 3. 
Deuma, 1. xxviii. 00. 
Dewi, St., I. ix. 76. 
Dewin, I. xxxiii. 51. 
Dinan, III. xxxiii. 16. 
Dinas y Garai, III. xxx. 21. 
Dinawal, III. iii. 19. 
Dinmael, V. xiii. 
D61 Arddun, I. xi. 36. 
D61 y Vorwyn, III. iii. 03. 
Don, IV. xvii. 1. 
Donevan, IV. xix. 41. 
Drws y Nant, V. xiii. 18. 
Dulas, VI. iii. 12. 
Dulyn, I. xvii. 30. 
Duram, I. xviii. 2. 
Dwdlai, arglwydd, I. x. 33. 
Dwnster, I. xviii. 42. 



Dwy-Went, I. i. 34. 
Dwynwen, I. ix. 76. 
Dwywe, V. xv. 50. 
Dyved, II. v. 11. 
Dyvynog, I. xv. 43. 
Dyfryn Anr, I. xxvii. 46. 
Dyryslwyn, Ill.viii. 40. 



Ebyrnant, IV. i. 2. 

Edeyrnion, V. xii. 2. 

Edgar, I. xviii. 43. 

Ednyved Vychan, II. x. 14. 

Edwin, I. xviii. 101. 

Edvvy, I. xxiii. 47-; IV. xxv. 57- 

Evrog Gadarn, V. iii. 10. 

Eglwys Iail, I. v. 22. 

Eglwys Wen, VII. ix. 40. 

Egwad, III. xii. 11. 

Ei Warwig, IV. ii. 37- 

Einion Clyd, IV. xx. 32. 

Einion Sais, I. xxxviii. 0. 

Elen Coel Godebog, VII. vi. 21. 

Elen verch Eudav, I. xxxvi. 51. 

Elen Gethin, I. vii. 50. 

Elen Lueddawg, VII. ii. 18. 

Eleri, St., II. i. 105. 

Elvael, I. iv. 27.; IV. xxiii. xxvii. 

xxviii. 
Elian, IV. xix. 00. 
Elian Ceimiad, II. vi. 27- 
Elis, I. ix. 76. 
Eliwlod, II. i. 107. 
Elwedd, I. xxv. 02. 
Elystan Glodrydd, I. vii. 52. III. xv. 

27- 
Elystan Glodrydd, Llwyth, III. i. 
Emlyn, IV. ii. 3. 
Emrys, I. xxii. 50. 
Emwnt, I. v. 24. 
Emyr Llydaw, III. x. 23. 
Enid, I. xxxi. 23.; III. xx. 2. 
Ei-gin, I. xxvi. 9. 
Esgob Eli, III. xiii. 17- 
Essyllt, V. x. 20. 
Euas, I. xxvii. 
Eudav, I. xxxvi. 51. 
Euron = Euronwy, III. xx. 34. 
Ewsam, I. iv. 12. 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



507 



V. 

Val, II. ii. 10. 

Van, I. iv. 4, 5. 

Velallt, V. vi. 7- 

Venis, III. xix. 34. 

Veri, II. i. 103.; IV. xviii. 22. 

Vernagl, I. xxxv. 25. 

Verwig, I. xi. 32; IV. ii. 1. 

Vreusys = Freusys, V. ix. 7- 

Vyrnwy = Evyrnwy, I. xvii. 3. 

F. 
FUs, IV. xix. 48. 
Flint, V. vii. 

Friswydd, sant, V. xv. 52. 
Frolo Franc, III. xxvii. 43. 
Fwg, Syr, III. xv. 55. 

G. 
Galath,VIII. ii. 8. 
Garmon, St. I. xix. 6. 
Garwy, II. ix. 21. 
Gelli, I. xxvii. 42. 
Geraint ab Erbin, IV. vii. 25. 
Gi o Wanvig, I. xiii. 9. 
Gien, I. xxxvi. 52. 
Glan Dwylais, III. xiv. 10. 
Glyn Ieithon, III. xxvi. 
Glyn Nedd, I. xxiv. xxv. 
Glyn Trevnaint, VIII. ii. 48. 
Glywis Cernyw, VII. iii. 40. 
Godwin, I. xxii. 32. 
Gredivel, III. xxvii. 42. 
Greinvil, I. xxx. 22. 
Grigor, St., III. iv. 17- 
Gronwy Goch, III. x. 38. 
Grwyn, III. iii. 38. 
Gwalchmai ab Gwyar, I. xviii. 50. 
Gwanas, II. i. 3. 
Gwaunllwg or Gwentllwg, I. xvii. 

34. 
Gwawrddydd, III. ix. 34. 
Gwdion, IV. xvii. 1. 
Gweble, I. xxxix. 32. 
Gweirydd, II. i. 33. 
Gweithvoed, IV. iv .9. 
Gwenddydd, III. xx. 8.; IV. xv. 19. 
Gwendodiatl, IV. x. 13. 
GAvenvrewi, V. xv. 55. 
Gwenvul, V. iv. 41. 



Gwenhwyvar, I. xxxi. 23. 
Gwent, I. i. 6. 
Gwenwynwyn, III. iii. 2,9. 
Gwenwys, VII. v. 9.; vi. 8. 
Gwernant, I. xxxvii. 28.; III. xv. 

xvi. 
Gwestun, III. xxiii. 16. 
Gwindy Gwyn, I. xviii. 123. 
Gwion Bach, I. xxxviii. 23. 
Gwladus Ddu, 1 i. 23. 
Gwrgan ab Rhys, I. xxiv. 8. 
Gwrlais, I. xxi. 18. 
Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenau, II. vii. 15. 
Gwrtheyrnion, IV. xxi. 
Gwyndnd, I. xviii. 9. 
Gwynen, I. xxxvi. 47. 
Gwynvryn, I. ix. 52. 
Gwynio, IV. v. 62. 
Gwynionydd, III. xxviii. 7- 
Gwynyn, IV. x. 50. 
Gwyr, I. xxv. 26. 
Gwytherin, II. i. 42. 

H. 

Havod y Wern, VII. viii. 25. 

Harmons, St., IV. xxi. 2. 

Harri, VII. ii. x. 

Heinyn, II. x. 31. 

Heledd, I. xxv. 36. 

Hendrev, IV. xvii. 55. 

Henri Dwnn, IV. xii. 8. 

Hensiest, 1. viii. 55. 

Herast =• Hergest, I.vi. x. xi. 

Hiraethog, VIII. ix. 2. 

Holt, VII. viii. 10. 

Hordley, V. i. 

Hu, III. xxviii. 35, 36. 

Huail ab Caw, III. ix. 44. 

Hur, IV. xii. 21. 

Hwmr, IV. ii. 30. 

Hyd y Main, V. 50. 

Hymyr, I. x. 12. 

Hywel y Vwyall, syr, II. ix. 31. 

I. 

Iago, sant, V. xiv. 7- 
Idloes, IV. xvii. 10. 
Idwal ab Meirig, II. x. 30. 
Iestyn ab Gwrgant, I. xxx. 8. 
Ll 2 



508 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



liar, I. ix. 76. 

Indeg, IV. vii. 32. ' . 

Iolo Goch, IV. xi. 21. 

Ippocras, IV. xxii. 31. 

Is-Aeron, IV. ii. 56. 

Is Cenen, I. xxxvi. 40. ; IV. xii. 

Ismynydd, I. xxiii. 27. 

L. 
Lawnslod, syr, IV. xxi. 43. 
Lil, arglwydd, I. xxx. 35. 
Lionel, syr, I. xviii. 79. ; xix. 56. 
Liwlad or Eliwlod, II. i. 107- 
Luned, IV. vii. 32. 

LI. 
Llan Avan, III. xxxiii. 9.; xxxiv. 
Llan Bryn Mair, VII. v. 
Llan y Crwys, IV. x. 45. 
Llan Dawg, VII. v. 2. 
Llan Dinan, III. xxxiii. 16. 
Llan Drillo, V. xii. 8. 
Llan Egwad, III. xii. 11 ; IV. xi. 

xiv. 
Llan Vaes, I. ii. 2. 
Llan Vwrog, I. xv. 49. 
Llan Sant Fraid, IV. xxiv. 
Llan Garron, I. xxvi. 
Llan Gathen , III. viii. 
Llan Gynin, II. i. 36. 
Llan Llyr, II. i. 47- 
Llan Non, IV. xiii. 
Llan Rewig, I. xi. 39. 
Llan Sawyl, III. xii. 13. 
Llan Wrda, III. x. 54. 
Llan Wrin, VII. vii. 
Llanaran, I. xxvi. 
Llanbedr, I. xxxvii. 34. 
Llanbedr Castell Paen, I. xxiii. 30. 
Llandecwyn, III. xxx. 13. 
Llandud wg, I. xxx. 
Llandyvriog, III. xv. 53. 
Llanddarog, I. xv. 51. 
Llanddeusant, IV. ix. 25. 
Llanegryn, VII. i. 10.; iv. 
Llanvynydd, IV. xiv. 
Llangadog, I. xv. 51. 
Llangathen, III. viii. 
Llangurig, IV. ii. 51. 
Llangynllo, IV. xvi. 
Llanwenog, IV. iv. 



Llanymddyvri, II. vii. ix. 

Lleehid, III. iv. 39. 

Lleision, I. xxx. 13. 

Lleyn, I. iv. 28. 

Llinwent, I. vii. 56. 

Lliwon = Llivon, VII. iii. 

Llugwy, II. vi. 45. 

Llwyn Davydd, III. xxviii. 

Llwyn Hoedliw, IV. xxv. 32. 

Llwyn Tren, III. xviii. 

Llwydiarth, VII. ii. iii. 

Llychlyn, II. viii. 31. 

Llyn Syvaddon, III. vi. 27- 

Llyr, II. vii. 48. 

Llyr Llediaith, IV. viii. 21. 

Llyr Merini, I. iii. 36. 

Llys Vechain, V. v. 20. 

Llys Newydd, I. xxxvii. 

Llys Wen, I. iv. 22. 

Llywarch ab Bran, II. iii. 57- 

Llywel, VIII. iv. 26. 

Llywelyn ab Iorwerth Drwyndwn, I. 

xviii. 79. 
Llywelyn Voethus, III. xxx. 5. 

M. 
Machraith, VIII. xi. 72. 
Maelawr, I. x. 42.; VII. viii. ix. 
Maelgwn Gwynedd, 1. xxxiv. 14. 
Maelienydd, IV. viii. 35. 
Maenan, III. xxx. 30. 
Maes Hyvaidd, III. xxv.; IV. viii. 
Maesaleg, IV. xi. 54. 
Maeson Wledig, I. xxxvi. 50. 
Mahaen, IV. xxv. 38. 
Mallwyd, III. iii. 5. 
Man uwch Deni, I. iv. 5. 
Menaw, I. xvi. 56. 
Mandvil, sir John Mandeville, I. xxx. 

38. 
Marchdeg, IV. xxi. 15. 
Maredydd Bwl, I. iii. 18. 
Mars, II. iii. 44. 
Marsia, I. i. 15. 
Marthin, sant, VII. vii. 29. 
Mathavarn, VII. vi. 
Maxen Wledig, I. xxxvi. 50. 
Mechain, I. x. 41. 
Mevenydd, II. i. 25. 
Meigant, II. iii. 41. 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



509 



Meilig ab Caw, I. xxxii. 24. 

Meirchion Gul, i. xxxiv. 42. 

Melangell, IV. xxvii. 15. 

Melwas, III. viii. 58.; IV. xix. 59. 

M6r, I. xxv. 62. 

M6rUdd, I. xxxiii. 22.; IV. xiv. 26. 

Mordav Hael, III. i. 24. 

Moreiddig Warwyn, I. vi. 33. 

Mortimer, Rhosser, I. xviii. 77- 

Morydd, IV. xvii. 46. 

Mwnt, IV. ii. 39. 

Mwrog, I. xxviii. 51. 

Mynau, I. xxxv. 39. 

Mynogan, II. i. 92. 

Mynydd Carn, III. xv. 43. 

Mynydd Du, II. vii. 41. 

Mynydd Mynau, I. xxxv. 39. 

Mynydd Paladr, IV. xvi. 41. 

Mynyw, III. xxx. 30. 

N. 
Nannau, V. xv. 
Nant y Nordd, I. ii. 43. 
Non, I. ix. 76. 

Nordd, I. xvii. 35.; VII. x. 43. 
Nudd Hael, I. ix. 57. 
Nyv, I. xxxviii. 50.; III. xxviii. 29. 

O. 
Oldal, III. iii. 64. 
Oldcastle, sir John, VI. i. 1. 
Offa, III. xxxi. 39. 
Oliver, I. xix. 34. 
Oswy, I. xviii. 95. 
Owain ab Urien, IV. vii. 29. 
Owtil, I. xxx. 43. 

P. 
Padarn Beisrudd, III. xxx. 62. 
Padrig, sant, V. iv. 28. 
Pandrasus, I. i. 45. 
Pare y Rhun, IV. xviii. 
Pebidiog, I. xvi. 42. 
Pedrog = Pedrogl, I. xxxviii. 48. 

III. xv. 53. 
Pembrys, VII. iii. 22. 
Pen Careg, III. xviii. 38. 
Pendeulwyn, III. iii. 32. 
Pendrasus, I. i. 45. 
Penegoes, VI. iii. 



Pennant Machno, VIII. ii. 26. 

Penrhos, VI. i v. 

Peredur, I. viii. 63. 

Peyton = Peutyn, I. i. 4. 

Pictwn, IV. vii. 

Pont Wilym, I. xxxviii. 

Powls, I. xxxviii. 37. 

Powys, VI. i. 

Pretr Sion, VII. ix. 27- 

Pryderi, II. i. 105. 

Prydyn, I. xvi. 54. 

Pum Llumon, V. xiii. 15. 

Prysaddved, VII. ii. 7- 

R. 
Rein, IV. xiv. 26. 
Rolant, IV. xxiii. 52. 
Rug, V. iv. 12. 
Rumnai, III. xxvii. 33. 

Rh. 
Rhaiadr Gwy, IV. xv. xvii. xxii. 
Rhiniel, I. iv. 40. 
Rhiwallawn, IV. xxii. 32. 
Rhiwlallt, III. xxii. 26. ; xxiv. 
Rhiwlen, I. xxiii. 33. 
Rhodri Mawr, II. x. 18. 
Rholant, I. xviii. 106. 
Rhon, III. xxv. 50. 
Rhonwen, III. xxiii. 49. 
Rhos, II. v. 10. 
Rhosseriaid, I. xiii. 24. 
Rhuddallt, V. xi. 2. 
Rhun Baladr Bras, IV. xix. 42. 
Rhyd Odyn, III. x. 
S. 
Sadwrn, IV. xvii. 10. 
Sandde Bryd Angel, I. xxxviii. 51. 
Sandwis, I. ix. 53. 
Sawdai, I. xxv. 40. 
Sawden, I. xix. 64. 
Sawyl, St., III. xh. 13. 
Severus, II. vii. 29. 
Seiriol, IV. i. 37. 
Selont, IV. xviii. 21. 
'Sgyryd Vawr, I. xxii. 6. 
Siaspar, Iarll Penvro, &c. II. x. 
Sieron, I. xxvii. 25. 
Sior, St., HI. xv. 56. 
Sisedr, I. xvi. 27. 



510 



INDEX OF PROPER NAMES. 



Sisil, I. xxx. 28. 
Slebeds, IV. vii. 2. 
Snottul, I. xvii. 30. 
South Hantwn, I. xviii. 112. 
Sulien, III. xxiii. 1. 
Sycharth, V. viii. 20. 
Syvaddon, III. vi. 27- 
Syvarn, VII. x. 37- 
T. 
Talerddig, I. xi. 36. 
Tal y Sam, I. xvii. 10. 
Talacharn, IV. vi. 24. 
Talebelion, VII. iii. 9. 
Talerddig, I. xi. 36. 
Talgarth, I. xvi. xvii. 
Tancervild, V. i. 16. 
Tegau Eurvron, I. iii. 39. 
Tegeingl, VIII. iv. 25. 
Teilo, St., I. xv. 66. 
Tewdrig, I. xxx. 57. 
Tewdwr, III. xxx. 31.; IV. viii. 16. 
Tolemeus, IV. xxii. 29. 
Tower, near Mold, V. vi. 
Tre Vaddon, I. xxxiv. 33. 
Tre Garon, I. xxxvii. 51. 
Tre Newydd, II. i. 
Tre Newydd, yn Swydd Trallwm, 

III. i. ii. 
Tre y Twr, I. viii. xiv. xv. 
Trev Eglwys, VIII. ii. 9. 
Trev Ludd, V. 64. 
Trevlydan, VI. ii. 48. 
Trent, I. xviii. 51. 
Tre 'r Pelyn, III. xxi. 
Tri brenin o Gwlen, IV. xxvii. 35. 
Troilus, IV. vii. 47. 



Trolob, I. xxiii. 52. 
Trystan, V. 66. 
Tuedd, I. xxv. 50. 
Twr Alaher, I. vii. 6. 
Twr Baldwyn, III. iii. 1. 
TwrFili or Caerphilly, II. i. 108. 
Twr Gwyn, I. ix. 51. 
Tyvaelog, IV. xx. 56. 
Tyssul, sant, III. xxviii. 57. 
Tywyn, III. xxvii. 46-; IV. ii. 
Thomas Verthyr, I. vii. 45. 

U. 
Udryd=Uchdryd, III. xxxii. 16. 
Urvul, V. iv. 42. 
Uriel, I. iv. 38. 
Uwch Aeron, IV. ii. 56. 

W. 
Warwic, Iarll, I. vi. 8. 
Waun, VII. ix. 44. 
Wdvil, lord Scales, I. xxx. 56. 
Welys, sir William Wallace, VII. iii. 

39. 
Wenlog, I. xv. 60. 
Wen Ynys, III. vi. 46. 
Wgawn, I. xxi. 54. 
Whitnai, I. ix. 2. 
Wrtun, V. i. 5. 
Wysg, II. v. 1 6. 

Y. 
Ysbir, IV. vii. 59. 
Yspeltwn, II. iii. 2. 
Ystog, I. xv. 19. 
Ystlwy = Ysterlwy v, IV. vi. 25. 
Ystrad Flur, III. xxx. 31. 
Ystrad Gynlais, II. vii. 34. 
Ystrad Yw, I. iv. 9. 






NAMES OF PERSONS TO WHOM POEMS 
WERE ADDRESSED, &c. 



ANNES, of Caerllion ar Wysg, I. 
xxxi. 

B. 
Bedo Chwith, of Bryn Penardd, IV. 

xxv. xxvi. xxvii. 
Bedo Coch, of Rhaidr Gwy, IV. xxii. 
Bedo, of Penrhos, near Penegoes, 

VI. iii. iv. 
Bwa, Cywydd i ovyn, V. ii. 

C. 
Caerlleon ar Ddyvrdwy, Awdl i, 

V. vi. 
Caio, IV. x. 

Cleddyv, Cywydd i ovyn, V. iii. 
Croes Oswallt, Cywydd i, V. v. 
Cyvrwy, Cywydd i ovyn, III. xxxiii. 
Cynwyl Gaio, III. xi. 

D. 
Davydd Amhredydd, &c. of Rhaiadr 

Gwy, IV. xvii. 
Davydd Vychan, of Caio, III. xii. 
Davydd Goch ab Hywel, of Gwrth- 

eyrnion, IV. xxi. 
Davydd Goch, of Stepleton Castle, 

II. iii. 
Davydd ab Grufydd, &c. o Aber 

Tanad, V. ii. 
Davydd ab Gutyn, of Oswestry, 

V. iii. 
Davydd ab Gwilym, of Llwydiarth, 

Anglesey, VII. iii. 
Davydd Llwyd ab Llywelyn, &c. of 

Mathavarn, VII. vi. 
Davydd Llwyd, of Newton, Mont- 
gomeryshire, III. i. ii. 
Davydd ab Llywelyn, &c. of Castell 

Hywel, III. xxvii. xxix. 
Davydd ab Maredydd Vychan, of 

Glyn leithon, III. xxvi. 
Davydd ab Maredydd, &c. of Llys 

Dinar), III. xxxiv. 



Davydd ab Maredydd, &c. of Rhaiadr 

Gwy, IV. xv. 
Davydd ab Rhys, &c. of Pen Craig, 

III. xxi. 
Davydd ab Sion, of Gower, I. xxxiii. 

xxxiv. xxxv. xxxvi. 
Davydd ab Thomas Vychan, of Caio, 

III. x. 

Davydd ab Thomas Vychan, of Llan- 

wenog, IV. iv. 
Davydd ab Thomas ab Grufydd ab 

Nicolas, II. VI. 
Dillad Gwely, Cywydd i ovyn, V. x. 
Dwy vuwch, Cywydd i ovyn, I. 

xxxix. 

E. 
Einion ab Ieuan, &c. of Abernant, 

IV. i. 

Elen, daughter of Llywelyn, of Llwy- 
diarth, Anglesey, VII. ii. 
Emwnt, Iarll Rismwnt, VIII. x. 

V. 
Vychan, syr Grufydd, of Powys,VI. i. 
Vychan, syr Thomas, of Tretower, I. 
xiv. xv. 

F. 
Flint, Cywydd i Saison, V. vii. 

G. 

Grufydd ab Aron, of Llan Egryn, 

VTI. i. 
Grufydd Derwas, of Nannau, V. xv. 
Grufydd ab Hywel, &c. of Bachell- 

drev, III. xxxi. 
Grufydd Ieuan Llwyd, VIII. vi. 
Grufydd ab Ieuan, &c. of Caus, VI. ii. 
Grufydd ab Nicolas, of Newton, Llan- 

deilo, II. i. 
Grufydd ab Rhys, &c. of Branas, 

V. xiv. 

Grufydd ab Rhys, &c. of Dinmael, 
V. xiii. 



512 



NAMES OF PERSONS ADDRESSED. 



Grufydd ab Rhys ab Ieuan, of Edeyr- 

nion, V. xii. 
Gwenllian, daughter of Owain Glyn- 

dwr, V. xi. 
Gwenllian, daughter of Rhys, of 

Blaen Tren, III. xx. 
Gwervyl verch Madog, of Abertanad, 

V. iv. 
Gwilym ab Grufydd Derwas, of Cem- 

maes, V. xvi. 
Gwilym ab Gwallter, of Is Cenen, 

IV. xii. 
Gwilym Sion, of Llan Egwad, IV. xi. 
Gwilym Gwent, VIII. vii. 
Gwilym ab Thomas Vychan, of Cevn 

Melgoed, III. viii. ix. 
Gwladus, daughter of sir David Gam, 

I. i. 

H. 
Harri VII. Brenin, VIII. xi. 
Harri ab Thomas ab Grufydd ab 

Nicolas, II. vii. 
Henri ab Gwilym, VIII. viii. 
Henri ab Gwilym ab Thomas Vychan, 

III. iv. v. 

Herbart, syr William, lord of Rhag- 

lan, I. xviii. 
Hopcyn ab Sion, I. xxxvii. 
Huling Gwely, Cywydd i ovyn, VI I. 

ii. 
Huw Conwy, of Bryn Euryn,VIl. x. 
Huw Lewis, of Prysaddved, Angle- 
sey, VII. iv. 
Hywel ab Davydd, &c. of Alderbrook 

Hall, III. xv. xvi. 
Hywel ab Davydd, &c. of Elvael, IV. 

xxvii. 
Hywel ab Davydd, &c. of Llan Eg. 

wad, IV. xiv. 
Hywel Goch ab Rhys, &c. of Rhi- 

wlallt, HI. xxiv. 
Hywel ab Gronwy, of Maelawr, VII. 

viii. 
Hywel ab Henri, of Pare y Rhun, 

IV. xix. 

Hywel ab Ieuan Coch, IV. xxiii. xxiv. 

I. 

Iasper larll Penvro, VIII. i. iii. iv. v. 



Ieuan Du ab Davydd, &c. of Elvael, 

IV. xxvii. xxviii. 
Ieuan ab Maredydd, &c of Llan 

Avan Vawr, III. xxxiii. 
Ieuan ab Phylip, of Cevn Llys, IV. 

viii. 
Iolo, syr Huw, &c. of Llansanfraid, 

Radnorshire, IV. xxiv. 
L. 
Lewis ab Gwatcyn, of Bredwardine, 

I. xxiii. 
Lewis ab Maredydd, &c. of Llanwrin, 

VII. vii. 

LL. 
Lien Gwely, Awdl i ovyn, VII. ii. 
Lien Gwely, Cywydd i ovyn, I. xxxi. 

VII. ii. 
Lleucu, daughter of Ieuan ab Iancyn, 

of Llwyn Davydd, III. xxviii. 

xxix. 
Llywelyn ab Gwilym ab Thomas 

Vychan, III. vi. vii. 
Llywelyn a Henri ab Gwilym, III. v. 
Llywelyn ab Rhys ab Sion, of New 

Radnor, III. xxv. 
M. 
March, Cywydd i ovyn, IV. vi. ix. xx. 
Maredydd Ammharedydd, of Trev 

Eglwys, VIII. ii. 
Maredydd ab Hywel ab Morus, V. v. 
Maredydd ab Morgan ab syr Davydd 

Gam, I. iv. v. 
Morgan ab Rhys, of Llan Deilo 

Vawr, I. iii. 
Morgan ab syr Davydd Gam, I. ii. 
Morgan ab Thomas ab Grufydd ab 

Nicolas, II. iv. v. 
N. 
Nicolas ab Grufydd, &c. of Oswestry, 

VIII. ix. 
Nicolas Ryd, of Castell Moel, IV. 
xviii. 

O. 
Owain Vychan ab Grufydd, &c. of 

Llan Bryn Mair, VII. v. 
Owain a Grufydd, meib Ieuan Blaen - 

au, VI. v. 
Owain ab Grufydd ab Nicolas, II. ii. 
Owain ab Phylip ab Rhys, of Cen- 
arth, V. ix. 



NAMES OF PERSONS ADDRESSED. 



513 



Owain ab Tomas ab Tonias Vychan 

ab Davydd, III. xiv. 
P. 
Pbylip ab Maredydd, &c. of Cil Sant, 

IV. v. 
Phylib ab Rhys, of Cenarth, V. viii. 
Phylip ab Thomas Vychan, III. xiii. 

R. 

Risiart Vychan, lord of Bleddvach, 
I. xii. 

Rhisiart Herbart, syr, I. xix. 

Rhisiart Herbart, esq. of Aberyst- 
wyth castle, I. xx. 

Rhisiart Twrbil, of Llandudwg, I. 

XXX. 

Rhobert Whitnai, lord of Whitney, 

I. ix. 
Rhosser Cinast, of Hordley, V. i. 
Rhosser Vychan, syr, of Tretower, 

I. viii. 
Rhosser ab Sion ab Rhobert, of Mael- 

awr, VII. ix. 
Rhosser, Watcyn, a Harri, meib Tho- 
mas Vaughan, I. xiii. 
Rhydderch ab Rhys ab Llywelyn 

Voethus, III. xxx. 
Rhydderch ab Rhys, lord of Tywyn, 

IV. ii. 
Rhyvel plant Thomas, yn Abermar- 

lais, II. xi. 
Rhys Awbre a Wiliam ab Morgan, 

IV. ix. 
Rhys ab Davydd, &c. of Blaen Tren, 

III. xvii. xviii. xix. 
Rhys ab Davydd ab Hywel Vain, 

III. xxii. 
Rhys ab Davydd Llwyd, of Mont- 
gomery castle, III. hi. 
Rhys ab Einion, of Carn Avan, III. 

xxxii. 
Rhys ac Owain, meib Phylip ab 

Rhys, of Cenarth, V. ix. 
Rhys ab Sion, of Aberpergwm, I. 

xxiv. 



Rhys ab Thomas, syr, II. x. 

Rhys ab Tomas ab Davydd, of Llan- 

gyllo, IV. xvi. 
S. 
Siancyn ab Thomas ab Grufydd ab 

Nicolas, II. viii. 
Siancyn Winstwn, of Llangarron, 

I. xx vi. 
Sion ab Davydd, of Gower, I. xxxii. 
Sion Havart, of Pont Wilym, I. 

xxxvii. 
Sion ab Hywel, of Euas, I. xxvii. 
Sion a Hywel, meib Ieuan Coch, of 

Elvael, IV. xxiii. 
Sion ab Ieuan Gwyn, of Llan Non, 

IV. xiii. 
Sion Phylip, of Cil Sant, IV. vi. 
Sion ab Rhys a Siancyn, of Aber- 
pergwm, I. xxv. 
Sion ab Thomas, of Llandovery, 

ii. ix. 

T. 
Trahaiarn ab Ieuan, of Penrhos 

Vwrdios, I. xxix. 
Thomas ab Davydd ab Watcyn ab 

Henri of Gwent, I. xxviii. 
Thomas ab Phylip, of Picton Castle, 

IV. vii. 
Thomas ab Rhosser, lord of Herast 

or Hergest, I. vi. vii. 
Thomas ab Rhydderch, of Cethiniog, 

IV. iii. 
Tomas ab Rhys ab Davydd ab Hywel 

Vain, III. xxiii. 

W. 

Watcyn Vychan, of Herast, I. x. xi. 

Watcyn Vychan, of Talgarth, I. xvi. 
xvii. 

Wiliam Vychan, constable of Aber- 
ystwyth Castle, I. xxi. 

Wiliam ab Morgan, IV. ix. 

Wiliam ab Morgan ab Davydd ab 
Gwilym, I. xxii. 



369 9 




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